The EU has agreed to impose sanctions on a host of influential figures within the Belarus government after rejecting the country's election results.

Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled for 26 years, was re-elected on 9 August after official results saw him win 80 percent of the vote, prompting mass protests who claim the election was rigged.

Almost 7,000 protestors have been arrested and detained during demonstrations. At least two people have died and hundreds of others have been injured in the violence. 

Several presenters working for the country's state television network have also resigned, along with several members of the police, as a mark of solidarity with demonstrators.

In response to the chaos engulfing the country, an emergency meeting of EU leaders took place on Wednesday, after which the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, revealed sanctions will be imposed immediately.

Read more: Lukashenko orders security to beef up border controls 

"The EU will impose shortly sanctions on a substantial number of individuals responsible for violence, repression and election fraud," he said. "We stand by your side in desire to exercise your rights and peaceful, democratic future."

EU president, Ursula von der Leyen, also revealed the bloc will divert €53 million, that was originally intended for use by the government, towards civil society. 

Russia has warned the West against meddling in Belarus, which has close economic and political ties to Moscow and is central to Russia's European defence strategy.

On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused unidentified foreign powers of interfering, which he called unacceptable.

Meanwhile President Lukashenko has ordered police to end the protests in the Belarusian capital

"There should be no more riots in Minsk. People are tired; people demand peace and quiet," Lukashenko said during a meeting of his security council.

Lukashenko added that he had instructed border authorities to ramp up defenses "along the entire perimeter" of the country. 

"The defense ministry should pay special attention to the movement of NATO troops to the territory of Poland and Lithuania," Lukashenko said. "We must monitor the direction of their movement and their plans." 

Read more: Why Russia won't give up on Belarus