Belarus News

Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, has been declared the winner of Belarus's presidential election, securing 87.6% of the votes according to official exit polls. This marks Lukashenko's seventh term in office amidst widespread criticism of the election process, which has been labeled as neither free nor fair. The electoral landscape was dominated by suppression of opposition voices, with no significant challengers running against the long-time leader. Observers have raised concerns that the election lacked integrity, solidifying Lukashenko’s contentious grip on power.

In a highly contentious electoral process, Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko is poised to secure his position for a seventh consecutive term in elections held on January 26, 2025. The elections are marred by accusations of government manipulation and the repression of dissent. With real opposition candidates detained or in exile, the election offers little choice for voters. Polling stations, known for their lack of privacy, allow only limited scrutiny; opaque ballot boxes and pre-selected electoral commissions raise concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. Previously, Lukashenko garnered 80.1% of the votes in a disputed election in 2020, leading to widespread protests that were violently suppressed. Despite the current climate of fear among potential dissenters, southern Belarus has seen demonstrations by opposition leaders, including Svetlana Tijanóvskaya, who expressed a unified front against the regime from abroad. Many citizens, primarily elderly, participated in the voting but public support for Lukashenko appears to stem from concerns over stability, particularly regarding Belarus's position amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The government has taken significant measures to control the electoral narrative and to prevent any form of opposition from rising. In light of these developments, the international community remains watchful of the outcomes and implications for democratic governance in Belarus.

Belarus is gearing up for a presidential election that is expected to see incumbent Alexander Lukashenko secure his seventh consecutive term, despite having been in power since 1994. Analysts and opposition leaders describe the upcoming vote as a "farce" lacking real competition. Five candidates are officially contesting the election, but dissenting opinions about Lukashenko's administration are notably absent among them. One candidate, Sergei Syrankov, leader of the Communist Party of Belarus, referred to Lukashenko as "Bat'ka," meaning 'father,' praising his leadership instead of criticizing it. Anna Kanopatskaya, an independent candidate, has also struggled to find significant faults with Lukashenko's governance, recognizing both flaws and successes in his approach. Critics suggest that this election is merely a facade designed to project a democratic process while maintaining Lukashenko's iron grip on power. The opposition, particularly led by exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has called for a boycott of the election, labeling it as an "imitation" of democracy. She stated, "It will be like the reappointment of a dictator by a dictator." Despite a crackdown on dissent following the disputed 2020 election, which resulted in mass protests and widespread detentions, critics argue that Belarus remains far from being free of repression, with over 1,200 political prisoners still reported.