EU decries Belarus violence after opposition supporter death

European Union on Friday condemned continued violent crackdown by Belarusian authorities following death of a 31-year-old opposition supporter who died in a hospital after he was reportedly beaten by security forces. death of man came about three months after mass protests began in Belarus in wake of Aug. 9 election that official results say gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office. opposition and some poll workers say results were manipulated and have been calling for Lukashenko's resignation.

More than 17,000 people have been arrested since election.Peter Sta, EU’s spokesman for foreign affairs and security policy, said that 31-year-old Raman Bandarenka died Thursday at a Minsk hospital after several hours of surgery “due to serious injuries caused, according to reports, by brutality of plainclos policemen. A total of four people, including Bandarenka, are reported to have died over past three months as result of crackdown on protesters and opposition supporters.

“This is an outrous and shameful result of actions by Belarusian authorities who have t only directly and violently carried out repression of ir own population, but also created an environment whereby such lawless, violent acts can take place," Sta said in a statement. He ded that Lukashenko's government was "igring t only fundamental rights and freedoms of Belarusian people, but also disregarding ir lives."

EU alrey has imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and several dozen officials over ir role in security crackdown launched after contested election. Sta said Friday that 27-nation bloc “stands rey to impose ditional sanctions."In a separate video mess, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that EU member states have asked bloc's executive to prepare a plan of ecomic support for Belarus.

“ European Union stands rey to mobilize all its ecomic means to support and accompany democratic change," she said. “Europe’s ecomic influence is immense. It's up to us to make a more strategic use of our ecomic clout. It's up to us to take clear our positions and to enforce m with stronger actions."