UK's Raab urges Belarus to allow democratic change

British foreign minister Dominic Raab said he spoke with Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Monday as part of efforts to urge the country's government under President Alexander Lukashenko to allow democratic change.

"The UK stands with the Belarusian people and calls on Lukashenko's regime to end its repression of those supporting change," Raab said.

Last week Tsikhanouskaya - who fled to Lithuania after disputed elections and protests last year - asked European countries to impose further economic sanctions.