Alexander Lukashenko, the longstanding leader of Belarus, has been announced as the victor of a contentious presidential election, thereby obtaining a seventh consecutive term, as reported by the nation’s electoral authority. According to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission via its official Telegram account on Monday, Lukashenko garnered 86.8 percent of the votes, with his four opponents on the ballot being supporters who lauded his three-decade tenure.
At a news conference, Igor Karpenko, the commission’s head, stated, “The Republic of Belarus deserves congratulations; we have elected a president.”
According to election officials, the turnout for the vote conducted on Sunday reached 85.7 percent, with around 6.9 million voters eligible. The incumbent leader of Belarus has triumphed in every presidential election since 1994, with critics, including his opponents, Western nations, and rights advocates, labeling these elections as a “sham.”
Various politicians, particularly those from Europe, have asserted that the recent vote lacked both freedom and fairness, citing the prohibition of independent media within the country and the imprisonment or exile of all prominent opposition leaders.
“The citizens of Belarus were left with no alternatives. This is a sorrowful day for all who yearn for freedom and democracy,” stated German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on X.
“Currently, over 1,200 individuals in Belarus are unjustly incarcerated solely for having the bravery to voice their opinions.”
The last presidential election in Belarus, held in 2020, culminated in widespread protests, unprecedented in the nation’s history of nine million inhabitants. The opposition, along with Western countries, accused President Lukashenko of electoral fraud, leading to the imposition of sanctions.
In response to inquiries regarding the imprisonment of his adversaries, Lukashenko stated during a news conference on Sunday that they had determined their own destinies. “Some opted for imprisonment, while others opted for exile, as you have mentioned. We did not expel anyone from the nation,” he remarked during an extensive news conference that extended beyond four hours. Exiled opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya informed the Reuters news agency that Lukashenko orchestrated his re-election as part of a “ritual for dictators.”