BERLIN: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday called on Russia not to meddle in the crisis engulfing Belarus following a disputed presidential election.

“Belarus is a sovereign and independent state. And nobody, including Russia, should interfere there,” Stoltenberg was quoted as telling Germany’s bestselling Bild daily.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Thursday vowed military support for close ally and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, while urging a peaceful resolution to the unrest and protests that erupted after the disputed August 9 vote.

In an interview with Bild, Stoltenberg said it would be “unacceptable” for the Belarusian regime to use violence to quash peaceful opposition protests.