Belarus opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Friday appealed for help from the United Nations and called for sanctions against those responsible for alleged electoral fraud and rights violations in her ex-Soviet country.

Addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council by video link, Tikhanovskaya said the global body should urgently send a mission to Minsk.

“Today my country is in turmoil. Peaceful protesters are being illegally detained, beaten and imprisoned,” said Tikhanovskaya, 37.