Striker Shkurin refuses to play for Belarus while Lukashenko in power

“I refuse to represent the interests of the selection as long as the Lukashenko regime is in power. Long live Belarus!” Shkurin, who turns 21, wrote on Instagram.

Lukashenko, in power for 26 years, has faced down a week of street demonstrations and refused demands for a re-run of a presidential election that protesters say was massively rigged.

He denies losing, citing official results that gave him just over 80% of the vote.

Shkurin was named in the Belarus squad for next month’s UEFA’s Nations League matches. The former Soviet republic host Albania on Sept. 4 and visit Kazakhstan three days later.

Shkurin signed a four and a half-year contract with Russia’s CSKA in January. Last year he was the Belarusian league’s top scorer with 19 goals.