RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEY LAVROV ACCUSED THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE ON FRIDAY OF INSTIGATING TENSIONS DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN BELARUS, AP REPORTED. IT WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL COMMENT FROM MOSCOW AFTER RIOT POLICE STORMED INTO A SQUARE OCCUPIED BY PROTESTERS IN THE BELARUSIAN CAPITAL, DETAINING SOME 200 AND BRINGING AN END TO THE UNPRECEDENTED, AROUND-THE-CLOCK RALLY AGAINST AUTHORITARIAN PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO. LONG BEFORE THE ELECTIONS, THE OSCE MISSION LED BY THE OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS HAD DECLARED THAT (THE ELECTIONS) WOULD BE ILLEGITIMATE AND IT WAS PRETTY BIASED IN ITS COMMENTARIES ON THEIR PROGRESS AND RESULTS LET'S BE FRANK THUS PLAYING AN INSTIGATING ROLE, LAVROV SAID. THE OSCE'S OBSERVER MISSION SAID SUNDAY'S ELECTION DID NOT MEET STANDARDS FOR A FREE AND FAIR VOTE. ARBITRARY USE OF STATE POWER AND WIDESPREAD DETENTIONS SHOWED A DISREGARD FOR THE BASIC RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY, ASSOCIATION AND EXPRESSION, THE OSCE MISSION SAID. THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THERE WAS NO CAUSE TO DOUBT THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE ELECTION, AND HE TOOK ISSUE WITH THE MEDIA DESCRIPTION OF POLICE STORMING THE TENT CAMP.
