Russia warns interference in Belarus will worsen tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that foreign attempts to interfere in the domestic affairs of Belarus are unacceptable and could further escalate tensions, the Kremlin said in a statement.

He made the remarks during a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday. The two leaders "thoroughly discussed the situation in Belarus following the presidential election", the Kremlin said.

Putin also held separate phone calls on Tuesday on Belarus with European Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Putin expressed concern over the attempts of some countries to put pressure on the Belarusian leadership and "in every possible way" to destabilize the political situation in Belarus, the Kremlin said in a news release.

Interest was also expressed in preventing confrontation in Belarus, according to the release.

Attention is firmly focused on how Russia will respond to the biggest political crisis facing its ex-Soviet neighbor, with Belarus engulfed in mass protests after President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term in elections on Aug 9. The opposition have refused to recognize the results.

On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing that as a good friend and partner, China does not want any chaos in Belarus and opposes external forces creating division and instability in Belarusian society.

"We hope that Belarus can maintain stability and social tranquillity through their own efforts," he said, adding that China has always respected the development path chosen by the Belarusian people in accordance with their national conditions. China also respects their efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security and development, the spokesman said.

On Monday, Lukashenko said new elections may take place in Belarus if a new Constitution is adopted through a national referendum.

Lukashenko has refused to step down. He also signed a decree honoring about 300 police officers for their service.

He had a phone call with Putin on Tuesday. They also spoke by phone on Saturday and Sunday.

According to Belarusian state news agency Belta, Putin on Tuesday promised Lukashenko security assistance if Belarus needs it, but only on the basis of the framework of treaties under the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Lukashenko accused NATO of bolstering its forces on Belarus' borders and harboring aggressive plans, but the claim was denied by the alliance.

But Russia has remained tight-lipped and both the Kremlin and its state media have said nothing about any possible security assistance.

European Union leaders were set to tighten sanctions against Belarus at an emergency video conference on the crisis on Wednesday, EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said.

Some other Western countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have also voiced concerns over the crisis in Belarus.

A Russian government plane used to carry senior officials, including the head of the FSB security service, flew to Belarus for a brief stay before returning to Moscow in the early hours of Wednesday, flight-tracking data shows, according to a report by Reuters.

Tracking data showed the plane, a Tupolev Tu-214 that also serves as a command and control center, flew to Minsk on Tuesday before landing back in the Russian capital early on Wednesday morning.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.