17:40 - 14.08.2020

---

August 14, Fineko/abc.az. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić expressed concern about the situation in Belarus.

ABC.AZ informs that this is reported on the website of the Council of Europe.

"The situation in Belarus is alarming. Although Belarus is not a member of the Council of Europe, we have cooperated in several areas, and Belarus is a party to a number of conventions. Therefore, I call on the Belarusian authorities to ensure freedom of assembly and expression, to refrain from arresting peaceful demonstrators and from any kind of ill-treatment of protesters. The Belarusian government should establish a dialogue with civil society and start it immediately. The Council of Europe and its expert structures are ready to cooperate with Belarus to support the process of necessary reforms," the Secretary General said.

The presidential elections were held in Belarus on 9 August. The Central Election Commission announced the victory of the current head of state Alexander Lukashenko.