In a striking series of congratulations, the leaders of Russia and China have applauded Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on his recent electoral victory, marking an impressive seventh term in office. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the election results, asserting they demonstrated Lukashenko’s “undoubted” support from the citizens.
With more than 86% of the votes tallied in favor of the 70-year-old leader, the announcement has ignited a firestorm of condemnation from Western nations. Critics point to a pattern of oppression during Lukashenko’s nearly three-decade rule, where he has systematically eliminated or driven into exile his main political rivals.
Lukashenko, who has secured victory in every presidential election since 1994, faces allegations from opposition factions and human rights organizations that these elections are little more than thinly-veiled sham affairs. As Putin articulated, “Your convincing victory in the elections clearly testifies to your high political authority and to the undoubted support of the population for the state policy Belarus is pursuing,” a statement attributed to the Kremlin.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also extended his well-wishes to Lukashenko, as reported by state media. In recent years, Belarus has sought to solidify its ties with China, particularly as it navigates the treacherous waters of Western sanctions and attempts to attract foreign investment.
Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya dismissed the election as a “farce,” while European Union officials decried the voting process as a “sham.” To say tensions are high would be an understatement. Following significant protests in 2020, Lukashenko unleashed a brutal crackdown against dissent, strengthened by his allyship with Putin.
To bolster their position against opposition voices, rights organizations have documented that over 1,200 political prisoners languish in Belarusian jails, exacerbated by the turbulent political climate. Though Mr. Lukashenko offered pardons for around 300 individuals prior to the vote, many remain behind bars, their fates intricately tied to the whims of the regime.
Interestingly, this time around, the candidates lined up against him appeared to campaign on his behalf. Meanwhile, Lukashenko avoided taking part in any debates and casually remarked that he was somewhat indifferent to the campaign’s unfolding drama. Rumor has it he even charitably suggested his rivals were merely taking a “vacation,” albeit one spent in a cell.
The aftermath of the 2020 election left a scar on the Belarusian citizenry, igniting a wave of protests as demonstrators condemned the alleged electoral fraud. Tens of thousands of Belarusians sought refuge abroad, primarily in neighboring Poland and Lithuania, fleeing from the KGB’s reign of terror. When pressed about the opposition’s fate, Lukashenko infamously commented, “Some chose prison; some chose exile,” turning victimization into a baffling assertion of choice.
During a four-hour-plus news conference, he made clear that asking for forgiveness would be a prerequisite for any prisoner releases. In the heart of Warsaw, a hub for exiled Belarusians, Tikhanovskaya labeled Lukashenko a “criminal who has seized power,” putting the spotlight on the displaced nation’s yearning for fundamental change.
While she encourages dissidents to prepare for future opportunities, Tikhanovskaya candidly acknowledged, “This is not the moment.” Her declaration resonates deeply especially with the foreign ministers of the eight Nordic-Baltic nations—Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—who recently recognized “the tireless efforts of the Belarusian democratic forces” under her leadership.
In stark contrast, Lukashenko’s administration has enforced a strict clampdown on critical voices within Belarus. His administration has accused Maria Kolesnikova, a prominent imprisoned protest leader, of flouting prison regulations for daring to destroy her passport during a forced deportation attempt by the KGB back in 2020. Critics openly worry for Kolesnikova’s health, particularly given her hospital stay during incarceration, yet the President coolly reassured the public, insisting, “She is fine.”
For a vast number of Belarusians, their connection to a time before Lukashenko is like grasping at wisps of smoke. He was just 39 years old when he first claimed victory in the first national election post-Soviet Union independence. According to United Nations estimates, some 300,000 Belarusians have bid farewell to their homeland since the tumult of 2020—a staggering number against a backdrop of approximately nine million residents. Those expatriates won’t be casting ballots, as Belarus has put the kibosh on voting from abroad.
Building a narrative around election time, the Lukashenko regime went ahead and extended pardons to around 200 political prisoners. However, former detainees painted a dire picture, alleging they continue to live under the watchful eyes of security services, their freedoms circumscribed and their lives irretrievably altered.
Dubbed “Europe’s last dictator”—a moniker he embraces with unabashed pride—Lukashenko’s governance reflects traces of Soviet-era traditions and infrastructure. If he successfully navigates his tenure until its completion in 2030, he would have etched an astounding 36 years in power, becoming a towering figure in the annals of Belarusian history.
As the dust settles on this contentious election, one must ponder: how long can a regime founded on fear and coercion sustain itself? For many Belarusians, the unanswered question looms large, shrouded in uncertainty.
Report By Axadle Desktop
