Belarus Elections: A Continuation of Alleged Electoral Farce Under Lukashenko
In the recent presidential election in Belarus, widely criticized as a farce, Alexander Lukashenko is expected to be declared the winner for the seventh time, extending his rule to over 30 years. According to the state news agency Belta, Lukashenko purportedly received 86.8% of the votes based on preliminary results announced by the head of the electoral commission. Notably, this supposed vote share is the highest ever attributed to him. Exit polls further suggest that Lukashenko garnered 87.6% of the votes on Sunday, with a reported voter turnout of 85.7%.
A press conference organized by the electoral commission is scheduled for the morning to present further details on the election outcome. Belarus is often referred to as "the last dictatorship in Europe," with Lukashenko enjoying support from Russia. In this election, four opponents were allowed to run, all of whom are considered staunch supporters of Lukashenko and are widely viewed as mere puppets in the political landscape.
In the previous 2020 election, Lukashenko was declared the winner with 80.1% of the votes, and forecasts suggest he might have significantly increased that share this time. Approximately 6.9 million eligible voters were called to cast their ballots. However, experts are critical of the accuracy of these figures, emphasizing that they seem predetermined and bear little relation to reality. Political scientist Valeri Karbalewitsch, who has fled into exile, stated, "One must know that the numbers published in Belarus have nothing to do with reality. The power apparatus sets the numbers in advance."
Karbalewitsch argued that if the elections featured alternative candidates, Lukashenko would stand no chance of winning. An option labeled "Against all" on the ballot was reportedly supported by 51% of voters according to exit polls conducted by a state institute.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the elections in Brussels on Sunday evening, labeling them as neither free nor fair. She asserted, "The Belarusian people deserve a real say in who governs their country," and called upon Lukashenko to release all political prisoners unconditionally. Currently, over a thousand political prisoners are held, including a member of the European Union delegation.
In response to a question from reporters in Minsk about the EU's potential non-recognition of the election results, Lukashenko dismissed the concerns, stating, "Whether they recognize these elections or not is a matter of taste; I don’t care at all."
Allegations of fraud have marred elections in the former Soviet republic for years, often leading to widespread protests. The largest protests occurred in 2020 following similarly disputed elections, which were violently suppressed with assistance from Russia. Since then, an estimated 300,000 people have left Belarus, according to the United Nations. Prominent opposition leaders such as Maria Kolesnikowa and Viktor Babariko remain in detention, further underscoring the political repression in the country.
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