Belarus dismissed as "irresponsible " sanctions against it proposed by the European Parliament following the country's presidential elections.

"This is pure politics. These are irresponsible actions against Belarussians," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Popov said, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Popov's remarks came as the European Parliament called for travels bans on Belarussian officials, a freeze on their assets and restrictive measures against companies directly linked to senior Belarussian officials.

The European Union and the United States branded the March 19 poll, in which President Alexander Lukashenko won re-election to a third term, as rigged. Lukashenko is due to be inaugurated on Saturday.

"The choice of the Belarussian people does not need to be accepted or rejected from the outside," the spokesman added.

Popov expressed hope that "common sense will guide" European politicians.

Source: Xinhua