Swiss freeze assets of Belarus leader Lukashenko

[December 12, 2020]    ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland has frozen the financial assets of the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, following the violent aftermath of the elections in the east European country.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visits a polling station during the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus August 9, 2020. Sergei Gapon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Lukashenko and son Viktor are among 15 people banned from entering or travelling through Switzerland, the government said.

The individuals are alleged to be responsible for the use of violence and arbitrary arrests, it said.

"Switzerland is deeply concerned by the ongoing tensions and is calling for dialogue between the Belarus government and civil society," the government said.

It demanded the release of people who have been arbitrarily detained and the investigation of allegations of torture and ill-treatment by security forces.

(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Mark Potter)

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