Lukashenko Wins 7th Term In Belarus Election Condemned As 'Sham' By EU

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service January 26, 2025

Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenko has secured his seventh term in office in a presidential election that European Union leaders have denounced as a "sham."

With all votes counted, the Central Election Commission of Belarus announced that according to preliminary results, Lukashenko received 86.8 percent of the vote in the January 26 election. His closest competitor, Sergei Syrankov, received 3.2 percent.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said there were no gross violations at polling stations. Employees of ministry and its military personnel "implemented measures to ensure public safety during the election," the ministry said on Telegram.

Lukashenko, a Russian ally who has been in power for three decades, told the media after casting his vote earlier on January 26 that Belarus has "a tough democracy."

But the opposition, rights groups, and the West disagree.

The Washington-based Freedom House advocacy group in its latest report has described Belarus as "an authoritarian state in which elections are openly rigged and civil liberties are severely restricted."

Lithuania-based opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya on January 26 wrote on X that rallies against the election were taking place in cities across Europe, adding: "Belarus demands freedom."

Ahead of the election, senior EU officials questioned the legitimacy of the vote and Lukashenko's expected victory.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola called the election a "sham" and wrote on X, "My message to the people of Belarus is: keep strong, we have your back, the time of dictatorship will be over."

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticized Lukashenko for having "clung to power for 30 years" and said he would "reappoint himself in yet another sham election."

"This is a blatant affront to democracy," she posted on X.

However, Lukashenko dismissed the criticism and shrugged off remarks from Western leaders.

"Recognize these elections or not: It's a matter of taste. I don't care about it. The main thing for me is that Belarusians recognize these elections," he told reporters during a press conference in Minsk on January 26.

The election commission claimed that turnout had exceeded 66 percent by 2 p.m. local time.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-election-eu-sham- lukashenko/33289273.html

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Lukashenko Wins 7th Term In Belarus Election Condemned As 'Sham' By EU