In Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel convened an emergency summit of EU leaders on Wednesday to discuss the handling of the election and the crackdown in the wake of the polls.

“The people of Belarus have the right to decide on their future and freely elect their leader,” Michel said in a tweet. “Violence against protesters is unacceptable and cannot be allowed.”

On Friday, the 27 EU foreign ministers underlined that the elections were neither free nor fair and decided to start drawing up a list of people who could face sanctions over their role in the violence.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged President Alexander Lukashenko Monday to “follow the path of talks, not to rely on violence but on dialogue.”

“I appeal to the Belarusian military not to sin by using violence against their own people,” he said.-AP

Workers march toward the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant where Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko addresses employees in Minsk, Belarus, Monday.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, center, surrounded by his bodyguards listens to an employee of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in Minsk, Belarus, Monday.

European Council to discuss Belarus political turmoil