Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says that, if he were in Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s place, he would call fresh elections in one month with international observers present.
"Let's imagine that I am confident about myself, I am confident in the people’s vote, that I am a confident person. How can I calm everyone down?" Zelenskiy said.
"I would definitely say: ‘In one month there will be a new vote. And I am running for the new election. Whoever wants to run -- go ahead!'"
He added that he would invite in "all international observers."
Euronews released excerpts of the interview on August 23 ahead of the broadcast of the full interview on August 25.
The Ukrainian leader's remarks came after the European Union and other Western countries said they did not recognize the result of an August 9 presidential election giving Lukashenka 80 percent of the vote.
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main opposition candidate, has claimed that she was the true winner. She has since departed for Lithuania, saying she fears for her safety, amid mass protests in Minsk and other cities.
Zelenskiy said any candidate should be allowed to run in a repeat election.
"I’d tell the people of Belarus: 'Please, elect whoever you want,'" he said. "And after that result, there would be no more questions. I'm convinced about it."
It would be a way to avoid bloodshed, he said and would "be fair and would make history."
Zelenskiy Says Fresh Election In Belarus With Observers Would Calm Political Crisis
Related
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
In Russia's War Economy, The Warning Lights Are Blinking
2Attack From Afghanistan Kills Chinese National In Tajikistan, Sources Say
3U.S. Reportedly Allows Ukraine To Strike Russia With Long-Range Weapons
4RFE/RL Reveals Chilling New Details Of Bucha Massacre As Ukraine Marks 1,000 Days Of War
5Putin Says Russia Fired New Intermediate Missile At Ukraine After ICBM Accusations
6No Smooth Sailing For Climate Activist Greta Thunberg In The Caucasus
7Could U.S. Long-Range Missiles Tip The Balance In The Ukraine War?
8Wider Europe Briefing: Georgia's Vanishing EU Dreams
9Ukraine Live Briefing: Kyiv Says Moscow Used ICBM
10At Least 21 Dead In Russian Missile Strikes In Ukraine's Odesa, Sumy
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
