The candidate in US presidents from Democratic party and former Vice-President Joseph Biden responded to the protests in Belarus in the blog Medium.
He recalled that democracy is based on the concept that citizens have the right to elect their leaders and to have influence on the future of their country. Biden said that after “the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko in the last 26 years,” citizens of Belarus are demanding that their voices were heard.
Biden also recalled that against protesting citizens used stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets. “Lukashenko’s regime turned off the Internet, arrested protesters and independent journalists and tried to silence foreign observers,” wrote an American politician.
He spoke in support of citizens who call for a recount and called on Lukashenko to respect the rights of peaceful protesters and to refrain from further violence. Biden promised to defend the democratic rights and work with democratic allies and partners to “speak with one voice and demand respect for these rights”.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of state Michael Pompeo stated that the U.S. believes elections in Belarus are neither free nor fair. In addition, us Senator Robert Menendez has threatened sanctions, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and offered to hold new elections in the country. According to him, recent developments in bilateral relations between the U.S. and Belarus will cost nothing, while the Belarusian authorities will not count accurately the ballots or not to hold elections again.
In Belarus for the second day, there are street clashes between security forces and protesters, unhappy with the results of the presidential elections on 9 August. According to exit polls, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko gained more than 80 percent of the vote, the opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovski — less than 10 percent.
