Belarus opposition leader urges tougher Western response on Lukashenko

FILE PHOTO: Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrives for a meeting with Latvian President Egils Levits in Riga, Latvia November 13, 2020. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union and the United States must do more to help end the disputed rule of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Wednesday, calling on the EU to impose a further round of sanctions.

Belarus has been rocked by waves of protests since an Aug. 9 presidential election that Lukashenko says he won but the opposition - backed by Western countries - says was stolen, although the demonstrations have ebbed in recent weeks.