Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current political situation in Belarus.

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that the UK does not accept the results of the fraudulent Presidential elections in Belarus of 9th August. The UK is calling for a thorough independent investigation by the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) into the conduct of the elections and the violent crackdown that followed. The Government supports the call for constructive political dialogue between the regime in Belarus and opposition leaders to find a way forward that is supported by the Belarusian people. The Government is concerned by the continued reports of intimidation, harassment and arrest of opposition figures in Belarus, which only undermines the prospects for dialogue.