Belarusians are currently participating in a presidential election that is widely expected to secure Alexander Lukashenko's continued rule, making him Europe's longest-serving leader since 1994.
In the previous presidential election in 2020, Lukashenko claimed a victory with over 80% of the vote, which led to widespread protests by the opposition, alleging that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was the rightful winner. The aftermath saw a severe crackdown on dissent, with hundreds of thousands protesting in Minsk.
Despite the ongoing election, Tsikhanouskaya, who has been living in exile with her children due to the regime's response in 2020, is not calling for street protests this time, citing the high costs. The opposition movement has criticized the current election as a charade orchestrated to maintain Lukashenko's grip on power.
The State Department and the European Parliament have also denounced the election as a sham, highlighting the regime's repression as a sign of weakness rather than strength.
Lukashenko, with the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, managed to survive the 2020 scare. However, his regime has intensified efforts to suppress dissent, leading to the imprisonment of over 1,200 political prisoners, including prominent figures like Ales Bialiatski.
Despite international criticism and accusations of electoral fraud, Lukashenko shows no signs of stepping down, vowing to remain in power as long as his health permits.
The upcoming election, characterized by limited opposition and lack of independent observers, has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the process and the future of democracy in Belarus.
