Lukashenko Wins Controversial Belarusian Election Amid International Condemnation
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko secured another term in an election dismissed as a sham by the opposition and the European Union, extending his rule spanning over three decades.
The Central Election Commission announced Lukashenko’s victory early Monday, claiming he received almost 87% of the vote following a campaign featuring four uncontested candidates who supported his presidency.
The Belarusian opposition, many of whose members are imprisoned or in exile due to Lukashenko’s suppression of dissent, denounced the election as fraudulent, echoing their response to the 2020 election that sparked unprecedented protests.
The 2020 protests resulted in over 65,000 arrests and thousands of beatings, prompting international condemnation and sanctions.
The EU deemed Sunday’s vote illegitimate and threatened further sanctions.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the election for lacking any genuine choice, calling it a “disappointing day” for those seeking freedom and democracy.
“Instead of free and fair elections and a life free from fear and oppression, they face daily suppression, repression, and human rights violations,” she stated on X.
Lukashenko, who has governed Belarus with an authoritarian hand since 1994, has benefited from the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a relationship that aided him during the 2020 protests.
Lukashenko permitted Russia to use Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine in 2022 and subsequently hosted some of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons.
Putin congratulated Lukashenko on his “decisive victory” on Monday, with similar congratulations from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Some analysts suggest Lukashenko, concerned about potential unrest amidst economic difficulties and the war in Ukraine, scheduled the January election to minimize street protests.
Key opposition figures have either fled or been jailed. Activists report approximately 1,300 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski.
While Lukashenko pardoned over 250 individuals since July, authorities simultaneously intensified crackdowns, arresting hundreds more, including relatives and friends of political prisoners.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an exiled opposition leader who challenged Lukashenko in 2020, condemned the election as a “meaningless charade” and urged voters to spoil their ballots.