US says Lukashenko not legitimate leader of Belarus

11:41, 24.09.2020

The US announced late Wednesday that it no longer considers Alexander Lukashenko the legitimate president of Belarus, hours after he was officially sworn in for a seventh term.

“The United States cannot consider Aleksandr Lukashenko the legitimately elected leader of Belarus,” said a State Department spokesperson in a statement, according to the Axios news website.

“The path forward should be a national dialogue leading to the Belarusian people enjoying their right to choose their leaders in a free and fair election under independent observation,” the statement said.

Lukashenko’s swearing-in ceremony took place at Independence Palace in the capital Minsk, the presidential press office said in a statement.

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Alexander Lukashenko