Russia ‘must respect the sovereignty of Belarus’

Russia must respect the sovereignty of Belarus and the right of its people to elect their own leaders, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

According to Reuters, McEnany said that the leaders of the former Soviet republic of Belarus should heed demands for democracy from large numbers of demonstrators who have taken to the streets over the past three weeks to protest what they consider a rigged national election.

“The massive number of Belarusians protesting peacefully makes clear that the government can no longer ignore the people’s call for democracy, and Russia must also respect Belarus’ sovereignty and the right of its people to elect their own leaders freely and fairly,” she said at a briefing.

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun last week said a Russian military intervention in Belarus would be “most unwelcome,” but said Washington had no indication of any such plans.

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Minsk again on Sunday against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused by opponents and the West of rigging an Aug. 9 election to prolong his 26-year rule, Reuters reported.