The leading opposition candidate in Belarus’ presidential election has fled her country and is now “safe” in Lithuania, according to the country’s foreign minister. It comes after Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya refused to concede defeat in Sunday’s vote and dismissed the official results showing authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’s landslide victory as a sham. She submitted her formal demand for a recount to Belarus’ Central Election Commission on Monday. On Monday, a protester died amid the clashes in Minsk and scores were injured as police used tear gas, flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators. Election officials said Mr Lukashenko won a sixth term in office with 80% of the vote while Ms Tsikhanouskaya got 10%.

Source: Irish Independent August 11, 2020 07:18 UTC