Human Rights Watch's examination of how Belarus security forces viciously attacked largely peaceful protesters, using:

- stun grenades;

- rubber bullets and slugs;

- tear gas.

All made more horrific by brutal beatings and abductions...
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/11/belarus-violence-abuse-response-election-protests

Our researcher in Minsk observed police vans moving slowly down a main thoroughfare, stopping to let officers out to detain people seemingly at random. Riot police would leap out, chase & catch them, twisting their arms, pushing their heads down, and dragging them into the van.

Numerous videos of police beating someone they’ve kicked or pinned to the ground on the head & upper body with nightsticks. One video shot from outside a bus shows a riot officer inside beating someone with a nightstick. In another, police drag a woman out of her car by her hair.

The lead-up to the August 9 vote was marked by arrests of opposition political candidates and their supporters, bloggers, journalists, and peaceful protesters.

The EU has called the Belarus elections "neither free nor fair". https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/08/11/belarus-declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-presidential-elections/

Belarus authorities severely restricted internet access, which was wholly or partly unavailable on election day, for the 3rd day in a row. Most mobile online communications platforms disabled. Many websites, including leading independent news sources, blocked inside the country.

EU & member states should send clear message to the government of Belarus & members of the security forces, that those responsible for serious human rights violations - including attacks on peaceful protesters, disproportionate use of force, and torture - will be held accountable

Third night of brutal police violence against protesters in Belarus. @guardian: https://bit.ly/31Ce7Bi 

More than 50 journalists have been arrested in Belarus this week. @meduza_en: https://bit.ly/2DJCpS7 

EU states have urged foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell to call emergency foreign ministers talks on Belarus: https://euobserver.com/foreign/149137 

I hear from Sweden that @AnnLinde has confirmed in a radio interview this morning that such a meeting will take place on Friday.