Pompeo condemns Belarus crackdown as Russia ally roiled by 'unprecedented' protests

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the crackdown on protesters in Belarus, where the autocrat most closely tied to Russia is trying to contain a domestic outrage over a rigged election.

“Free and fair elections, genuinely contested, are the basis for the authority and legitimacy of all governments,” Pompeo said Monday. “We strongly condemn ongoing violence against protesters and the detention of opposition supporters, as well as the use of internet shutdowns to hinder the ability of the Belarusian people to share information about the election and the demonstrations.”