Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko has extended his more than three-decade rule in a controversial weekend election that has been widely criticized. The Central Election Commission announced Lukashenko's victory with nearly 87% of the vote, a result that has been met with skepticism as all four challengers in the race praised his leadership.
The political opposition in Belarus, many of whom are either imprisoned or exiled due to Lukashenko's crackdown on dissent, have labeled the election as a sham. The opposition's concerns are compounded by the fact that the 2020 election, which also faced allegations of irregularities, led to widespread protests and a subsequent crackdown resulting in thousands of arrests and incidents of violence.
The European Union has rejected the legitimacy of the recent election and has threatened to impose new sanctions on Belarus. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the lack of choice for voters and highlighted the absence of freedom and democracy in the electoral process.
Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, has maintained his rule through close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The relationship with Russia has been crucial for Lukashenko's survival, especially during the 2020 protests. Additionally, Lukashenko's decision to allow Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus has further solidified his alliance with Putin.
The recent election has raised concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, with reports of over 1,300 political prisoners, including prominent figures like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Despite Lukashenko's pardoning of some individuals, the authorities have continued to target dissent by arresting hundreds of others, including relatives and friends of political prisoners.
Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus following the 2020 election, has condemned the recent election as a 'senseless farce' and called on voters to reject the official candidates listed on the ballot. The international community, including the EU and China, has expressed concerns over the lack of transparency and fairness in the electoral process in Belarus.
