(Moscow) Belarus condemned, on Monday, the attack on a number of its deputies, one of whom was injured near its embassy in London, saying that the suspects are opponents of the regime.
The country has been the scene of a massive suppression of voices critical of Alexander Lukashenko’s authority since his re-election in August 2020. In reaction, Westerners, notably the UK, EU and US, doubled down. Sanctions against Minsk.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said that the facade of the embassy in London was damaged on Sunday, and then the diplomats were “physically attacked” by “fanatics” opposed to the Belarusian authority.
Broken nose, broken teeth
According to the same source, one of the diplomats suffers from “a broken nose, minor bruises to the head and broken teeth.”
The ministry added that “the charge d’affaires of Belarus was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and was informed of a strong protest and requested a thorough investigation into the incident,” noting that the British arrested the suspects. police.
The Belarusian ministry accused the attack of “eloquently showing the true face and methods of these fanatics whom the West is trying to portray as peaceful demonstrators.”
London police, in contact with AFP, reported the arrest of a man and said “investigations are continuing”.
According to a Belarusian diplomat, witness to the facts, Andrei Miskevich, quoting the Belta State Agency, the embassy was targeted with egg-throwing after a peaceful opposition demonstration.
When he came to witness the damage, the consul was “attacked by a group of four men and a woman”.
Belarus muzzled all forms of protest after facing demonstrations of historic proportions in the summer and fall of 2020.
In the process, relations with the Europeans became greatly strained.
The latest episode so far, Western countries accuse Belarus of orchestrating the influx of thousands of migrants to the borders of the European Union in order to avenge these sanctions.
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