Lukashenko calls the Belarusian opposition’s coordination council an attempt to seize power

The Belarusian authorities consider the opposition’s recently established coordination council for the transfer of power in Belarus an attempted power grab, says Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (Alyaksandr Lukashenka), according to TUT.by 

“They demand nothing more and nothing less than transferring power to them. As such, we unequivocally consider this an attempt to seize power, with all of the ensuing consequences,” Lukashenko said (as quoted by TUT.by). 

“As such, I want to warn all of those who joined his headquarters that we will take adequate measures,” Lukashenko continued. “But only according to the constitution and the law. We have enough of these measures to cool some hot heads.”

Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya — who, according to Belarusian election officials, came second in the contested presidential vote in Belarus on August 9, — announced the creation of a “Coordination Council for the transfer of power,” on August 14. According to Tikhanovskaya, the council will include civil society representatives, as well as “respected and well-known Belarusians, and professionals in their fields.”