Tsikhanouskaya warns Russia against interfering

Belarusian opposition leer Sviatlana Tsikhauskaya on Saturday said only a "transparent and fair election" could break country out of its "political crisis" following August presidential vote she claims was "rigged".

Tsikhauskaya spoke during an online question and answer session from Vilnius in Lithuania, where she fled in days after August 9 election which saw President Alexander Lukashenko declared winner with an overwhelming majority.

Belarusians have turned out in en masse for nearly four weeks to protest official results which gave authoritarian Lukashenko a sixth term with 80% of vote.

Tsikhauskaya accused president's regime of "stealing" votes and destroying evidence of election protocols t being followed.

She said she did t want to cut ties with Russia, which has publicly backed Lukashenko, but any interference in Belarus' internal affairs was "unacceptable".

Tsikhauskaya h dressed UN Security Council on Friday, where she urged UN to condemn crackdown on protesters.

On Saturday, she said Belarusian people h "woken up" and re was " turning back" over continuation of demonstrations against government.

(Im Credit: AP)