루카셴코 벨라루스 대통령, 야권 대선 불복시위 와중 전격 취임<br /><br />The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko was abruptly sworn in for his sixth term on Wednesday.<br />The sudden inauguration came amid weeks of protests against the August 9th election results that extended his 26-year rule, with over 80 percent of the vote.<br />"Inauguration day, is the day of our victory, convincing and fateful. We were not just electing the president of the country - we were defending our values, our peaceful life, our sovereignty and our independence"<br />The inauguration ceremony took place in Minsk, with several hundred top government officials present.<br />But the time and location of the event wasn't announced in advance.<br />Soon after the ceremony, Germany announced it still does not recognize Lukashenko as president of Belarus.<br />"Even after this ceremony today, Mr. Lukashenko cannot claim democratic legitimization, which would be the condition to recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus."<br />The spokesman also urged that "brutal force" against peaceful demonstrators in Belarus must stop.<br />
