OREANDA-NEWS. The European Union does not consider Alexander Lukashenko the legitimate president of Belarus, continuing to believe that the election in August was rigged. This was stated by said the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, in the European Parliament.

Mass opposition protests began across Belarus on August 9, after the presidential election, which Lukashenko won for the sixth time. According to the Central Election Commission, he gained 80.1 % of votes. In the first days, the protest actions were suppressed by the security forces; against the rally participants who did not agree with the results, tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets were used. Then the law enforcement agencies stopped dispersing the rallies and using force and special equipment.

According to official data, over 6,700 people were detained in the first days. As the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus reported, hundreds of people were injured during the riots, among them over 130 law enforcement officers. The authorities have officially confirmed the deaths of three manifestants.