Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the main opposition contender in the last week’s presidential election in Belarus, has refused to accept the reported result.
According to preliminary vote counts, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80% of the vote versus just under 10% for Tikhanovskaya. However, the reported results have been met with scepticism internationally amid fears of ballot-stuffing and vote-rigging.

The Warsaw-based OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which was barred from monitoring Sunday’s vote, said it was gravely concerned about reports of „administrative misconduct” and evidence of police brutality.

The authoritarian President Lukashenko, often named as „Europe’s last dictator”, won power in 1994 and has held on to it ever since.

Tikhanovskaya has emerged as an unexpected challenger to Lukashenko, taking over as opposition candidate after her husband was jailed by Belarussian authorities. She has since gone on to lead the largest protests the country has seen in years, despite harsh police crackdowns.

On Monday, Tikhanovskaya said the results „contradict common sense”, adding she would challenge what she described as „numerous falsifications”.

Leaders around the world have called on Belarus to respect democratic norms. Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki yesterday called for a special EU summit to discuss the election.

The PM said in a statement that Poland must show support to Belarussians in their pursuit of freedom.

Here in Gdansk, Mayor Dulkiewicz met with members of the local Belarussian community to show solidarity with those calling for democracy. Posting to Facebook afterwards, Mayor Dulkiewicz said she was touched by the meeting. She added that the City of Gdansk was with them and wished those returning to Belarus safety.

British citizens living in the EU after Brexit may be given the right to live and work in all member states, that’s according to sources of the Politico news site.

According to Politico, EU officials are considering allowing Britons residing in the EU before the end of this year to move between member states on much the same basis as an EU citizen.

Currently, the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement allows British people living in the EU to keep their rights to work, study, and access public services only in the member state they are registered in.

If confirmed, the proposal would extend those rights across the entire Union. However, those rights could come with conditions, such as being able to prove five years of residence in the EU.

Freedom of movement has long been a sticking point for European Brits campaigning to keep their current liberties.

Britons living in the EU have until December 31st to register their residence. In Poland, this can be done through the local Office for Foreigners.

Poland’s largest retailer is facing fines of PLN 115 million after it reportedly misled customers about prices.

Jeronimo Martins, the Portuguese company which owns the Biedronka supermarket chain, received the fine after it reportedly mislabelled products as cheaper than the actual sale price.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, which issued the fine, said in a press release „It is unacceptable to mislead customers about the real price of goods”, adding that customers may not always be aware when they pay more than the listed price.

The OCCP said the mislabelling had been going on for years, with the owners of the chain growing „unduly rich” from them.

Jeronimo Martins acknowledged the mislabelling but put it down to human error. The OCCP accepted the explanation may be true but refused to take it as an excuse, especially since the company took no action to remedy the issue.

Jeronimo Martins may now challenge the fine in court.

Malgorzata Szumowska’s „Never Gonna Snow Again” has been picked as the Polish nomination for the 2021 Oscars.

The Polish language comedy-drama, starring English-Ukrainian actor Alec Utgoff, follows the story of a Ukrainian migrant named Zhenya living in Poland.

Szumowska has been an icon of Polish cinema for some years. She’s behind some of the best-known Polish films of the last two decades, including 2013’s award-winning „In The Name Of”.

„Never Gonna Snow Again” is the first film to enter the race for the 2021 Oscars, which takes place in April next year. The film is due to premiere at this year’s Venice Film festival next month.

Weather

Remaining bright and sunny throughout the day with no rain expected. Feeling somewhat cooler than the last few days with highs of 22°C 71°F.

Much the same story going into tomorrow with temperatures set to go up again later in the week.

Thomas Holdstock/am