The citizens of Belarus deserve a free presidential election, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korčok has stated, adding that the upcoming election in the country is giving cause for concern, as several presidential candidates have been imprisoned. "Despite this, we're witnessing an unprecedented mass mobilisation at pre-election gatherings. Meanwhile, the repression against political activists is still taking place. Some 1,200 activists have been detained in connection to peaceful election events. The reaction of the state's authorities to peaceful assembly and expression is far from a fair democratic competition," stated Korčok. He expressed his solidarity with Belarusians, wishing them to be able to exercise their voting rights in an untampered democratic election.
The presidential election in the country is slated for August 9.
