⁍ More than 12,000 people have been arrested since President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the landslide winner of an Aug. 9 election.

---

⁍ The United States, Britain and Canada are expected to impose sanctions soon on Belarusian individuals.

---

– The newly re-elected leader of Belarus lashed out at the West today, accusing it of trying to “sow chaos and anarchy” in his country, reports Reuters. President Alexander Lukashenko’s government has been cracking down on anti-government protesters since he was declared the winner of last month’s election. More than 12,000 people have been arrested. “We are seeing attempts to destabilize the situation in the country,” Lukashenko told the UN General Assembly. “Interference in our internal affairs, sanctions, and other restrictions on Belarus will have the opposite effect, and are harmful for absolutely everyone.”