Russia slams Poland's 'interference' in Belarus

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday accused the Polish government of "undisguised interference" in Belarus' affairs.

Speaking at a briefing in Moscow, Zakharova claimed that Polish authorities "deploy informational propaganda to influence the Belarusian public opinion".

Zakharova had claimed that Polish authorities said they could take several Belarusian regions under protection.

She also commented on the upcoming address by opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to the United Nations Security Council.

Tsikhanouskaya, the main opposition challenger in Belarus' disputed presidential election, which has triggered mass protests, will address an informal meeting of the Council on Friday.

Estonia’s UN Ambassador Sven Jurgenson said on Tuesday that Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania under pressure from Belarus authorities, will speak to the UN’s most powerful body at a meeting focusing on attacks on human rights in the former Soviet nation.

Belarus’ opposition has called the Aug. 9 election that gave Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term as president rigged.

The United States and European Union have criticised the vote it as neither free nor fair and urged Belarusian authorities to begin a dialogue with the opposition.

During the first few days of post-election protests in Belarus, police detained nearly 7,000 people and beat hundreds, drawing international outrage and causing demonstrations to swell.

The government has since switched tactics and tried to halt the protests with threats, selective detention of protesters and prosecution of activists.