Amid turmoil in Belarus, President Putin congratulates President Lukashenko on election victory

Russian President Putin. Photo: VNA

"The Belarusian authorities invited the ODIHR (Office for Democracy and Human Rights) of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) to participate in the vote control. Why didn't they come? This immediately makes us think that in fact, the position on the results of this election was prepared. Therefore, someone can doubt the results, but I, I have every reason to question whether those who expressed doubts are really completely honest," Putin said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.

"Therefore, we proceed from the assumption that the elections took place. We recognize their legitimacy. And as you know, I congratulate Alexander Lukashenko on winning this election," the Russian President added.

Earlier, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Western countries of directly interfering in the situation in his country, and announced efforts to "pull" the Belarusian government into negotiations with the OSCE on the current situation.

In turn, the EU fully supports the OSCE proposals for a dialogue in Belarus and stated that it is ready to support this movement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the OSCE mediation proposals in Belarus, recalling how Western mediation efforts in Ukraine ended in 2014, when "an agreement was reached with the German, Polish and French Foreign Ministers", "and the next morning the opposition made a different decision"...