A U.N.
Investigator warned of the possibility of "another Iron curtain" descending in Europe during an urgent debate on the human rights situation in Belarus in Geneva on Friday.
It comes as President Alexander Lukashenko said his country needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania.
Emer McCarthy reports.
''Let's not allow another iron curtain to descend on the European continent.
Border closure will stop international scrutiny.'' That was a U.N.
Investigator, Anais Marin, on the situation on Belarus -- after its President Alexander Lukashenko warned his country needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania.
The weeks of street protests in Belarus have been met with crackdowns by the government on opposition, the biggest threat to Lukashenko in over two decades in power.
And the threat to close borders, coming as both the United States and Russia began separate military drills this week with their local allies.
The Russian exercises are with the Belarus military.
Across the border, the U.S. has started exercises with the Ukrainians.
Lukashenko denies allegations he rigged the August 9 election, which official results say he won by a landslide.
The Polish border is still open but Polish President Andrzej Duda told Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda he is considering imposing national sanctions on Belarus.
Britain's junior foreign minister has also mulled sanctions, and says that they are working with their international partners to hold the Belarusian authorities to account.
"We are forced to ... close the state border on the West, primarily with Lithuania and Poland," Lukashenko said.View on euronews
Tsikhanouskaya has insisted she is open to discussing the situation in her country with all parties, including Russia.