Belarus opposition challenger to address UN Security Council The main opposition challenger in Belarus’ disputed presidential election will address an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council on FridayUNITED NATIONS -- The main opposition challenger in Belarus' disputed presidential election, which has triggered mass protests, will address an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday. Estonia’s U.N. ambassador, Sven Jurgenson, said Tuesday that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania under pressure from Belarus authorities, will speak to the U.N.’s most powerful body at a meeting focusing on attacks on human rights in the former Soviet nation. Belarus’ opposition has called the Aug. 9 election that gave Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term as president rigged. The United States and European Union have criticized the vote it as neither free nor fair and urged Belarusian authorities to begin a dialogue with the opposition. Over the weekend, he cracked down on independent media and his government has been jailing activists.

Source: ABC News September 01, 2020 20:30 UTC