European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas denounced the Belarusian presidential election on Sunday as "neither free nor fair," citing the country's "relentless and unprecedented repression of human rights, restrictions to political participation and access to independent media." She said the EU will continue imposing restrictive measures on the Belarusian government while supporting civil society and its "democratic forces in exile."
Kallas pointed out that Belarus invited a delegation from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), of which it is a member, only 10 days before the election, preventing it from "access to key stages of the election process." Meanwhile, Russian observers stated they found "no violations or incidents" at polling stations.
