Press Releases
The Presidential Election of the Republic of Belarus
(Statement by Press Secretary YOSHIDA Tomoyuki)
August 11, 2020
- Japan is deeply concerned over the clashes between participants of protest meetings and security forces, which have occurred across Belarus, including in the capital, Minsk, following the presidential election held on August 9, and which have resulted in detention of a number of participants as well as casualties.
- The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) / the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed its regret that it was unable to dispatch its election observation mission to Belarus. Japan shares this view (*OSCE/ODIHR had sent observation missions to the past four presidential elections of Belarus, in which observers from Japan also participated). OSCE/ODIHR also has criticized the clear intimidation of political activists, the detention of prospective candidates and so on.
- Japan urges the authorities of the Republic of Belarus to ensure principles of democracy and refrain from acts of violence.