Aug.18 (EIRNS) — Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at her request. “The parties thoroughly discussed the situation in Belarus following the presidential election,” which took place on Aug. 9, said a Kremlin press statement . “Russia pointed out that foreign attempts to interfere in the country’s domestic affairs were unacceptable and could further escalate tensions. Hope was expressed that the situation would improve as soon as possible.”
According to Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert, she said Belarusian authorities “must refrain from the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, immediately release political prisoners and enter into a national dialogue with the opposition and society to overcome the crisis.”
In a follow-up to the Putin and Merkel discussion, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas discussed the situation in Belarus on Aug. 18.
Putin also spoke with President of the European Council Charles Michel, to discuss various ways of promoting a dialogue between the authorities and opposition in Belarus, including the OSCE’s mediation, a source in the European Council said. The Russian President “expressed concern in connection with some countries’ attempts to put pressure on the Belarusian leadership and destabilise the internal political situation” said the Kremlin readout, and they agreed in the need to avoid a “confrontational scenario.”
In Belarus a dialogue of sorts appears to be taking place, but Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko wants it to happen through a constitutional process. He announced on Belarus-24 TV yesterday that new elections can take place if a new Constitution is accepted through a referendum.
