Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has said any amendments should be passed within the legal framework, otherwise the country will face serious consequences.
"Once again, I would like to reiterate: amendments that some want should be within the law. Amendments must be spelled out in the Constitution. This work continues. It will be stepped up. How fast the work on the Constitution goes will depend on people's support. With the Constitution in place, we will be able to have discussions about the re-election of the bodies of authorities," he said at a meeting of the Security Council with the participation of regional leaders by a video link, state-owned BelTA has learned.
Lukashenko emphasized there is a legal and regulatory framework in the country, ruled by the current Constitution.
Read alsoLukashenko: Belarus government has somone to rely on"We should faithfully adhere to it. I have no other means to keep the country within the legal framework, in compliance with this Constitution. Otherwise, we will be governed by others," he added.
Belarus protests: developments
On August 9, presidential elections were held in Belarus.
The country's Central Election Commission announced the final election results. In particular, 80.1% of voters supported incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, 10.1% voted for Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, 1.67% for Anna Kanopatskaya, 1.2% for Andrey Dmitriev, and 1.14% for Sergei Cherechnya. Some 4.59% voted against all candidates.
Thousands of residents of Belarus took to the streets to protest what they believe is a rigged vote count. Riot police violently cracked down on protesters.
Belarus' Ministry of Internal Affairs said about 7,000 protesters had been detained in different cities since August 9. On the evening of August 13, the authorities started to release detainees.
"According to human rights activists, at least five people were killed during clashes with riot police, seven more remain in critical condition in hospitals' intensive care units. Activists say about 200-300 people were detained as political prisoners.
Lukashenko has repeatedly warned against foreign meddling in Belarus' domestic affairs. He had phone calls with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. As a result, the Kremlin assured they were ready to provide "comprehensive assistance" to Belarus.
On August 14, the European Union said they did not recognize the outcome of the presidential election in Belarus, and that work had begun to introduce sanctions over electoral fraud and violence against protesters.
