Belarus Updates: Opposition Candidates Face 15 Years in Prison

2140 GMT: Writing in The New York Times, four Foreign Ministers --- Carl Bildt of Sweden, Guido Westerwelle of Germany, Karel Schwarzenberg of the Czech Republic, and Radek Sikorski of Poland --- have denounced the conduct of the Presidential election and suppression of protests. They continue with a call to suspend ties with President Lukashenko and to engage with the democratic opposition:

Continued positive engagement with Mr. Lukashenko at the moment seems to be a waste of time and money. He has made his choice — and it is a choice against everything the European Union stands for.

But there are many in Belarus who know that his clock is ticking — and are discreetly preparing for a better future.

Our many conversations with representatives of different parts of Belarus society have convinced us that the country wants to be part of a free and prosperous Europe. We must now deepen our engagement with the democrats of Belarus and those inside the government who disapprove of the fateful turn their country has taken. They must not be abandoned or betrayed as their country enters what might be a new dark era.

1345 GMT: Video has been posted of the Belarussian Minister of Interior claiming 30 policemen were injured in Sunday's post-election clashes. He invoked the Battle of Kulikovo, a famous confrontation in 1380 in which Russian forces battles a Mongol army.

1215 GMT: Authorities have refused permission for Tamara Sidirenko, the lawyer for opposition Vladimir Neklyaev, to meet her client in prison.

Sidirenko has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor General's office.

0830 GMT: Vesna, a centre for human rights, says that seven of the nine candidates who challenged President Aleksander Lukashenko face up to 15 years in prison after they were detained during post-election protests and violence.

Charges have been filed against 20 opposition figures --- 17 for "organising riots" and 3 for "hooliganism". About 700 people were arrested on Sunday. Two of the seven detained Presidential candidates were later released.

The official return for the election gave Lukashenko 80% of the vote, with no opponent receiving more than 2.56%.

Earlier Updates: 5 Presidential Candidates, 12 Others Accused of "Organising Riots"