Alexander Lukashenko secured another term in office by winning a Presidential election, rejected by the West as a sham.
The President of Belarus – Alexander Lukashenko, a long-time ally of the President of Russia – Vladimir Putin, has extended his 31-year tenure by securing another term in office after electoral officials declared him the winner of a Presidential election, which the West has rejected as a sham.
According to preliminary results, Lukashenko claimed 86.8% of the vote in a contest where he faced no credible challenge from the four other candidates. The European politicians said the vote was neither free nor fair because independent media are banned in the former Soviet republic and all leading opposition figures have either been jailed or forced to flee abroad.
Taking it to X, the European Union’s (E.U.’s) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Kaja Kallas, tweeted,
Today’s sham election in Belarus was neither free nor fair.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 26, 2025
The people of Belarus deserve a real say in who governs their country.
On this so-called ‘election day’, I’m hosting @Tsihanouskaya with EU Foreign Ministers to reaffirm our support for a free and democratic Belarus. pic.twitter.com/kr20I4GnAU
The E.U. vowed to continue its punitive measures. Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner – Marta Kos reiterated in a statement that the bloc would maintain “restrictive and targeted measures against the regime” while supporting civil society and the exiled opposition.
Exiled Opposition Leader – Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran against Lukashenko in 2020 before being forced into exile, called for tougher Western sanctions on Belarusian entities and individuals involved in political repression and aiding Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Speaking on the occasion, she said, “As long as Belarus is under Lukashenko and Putin’s control, there will be a constant threat to the peace and security of the entire region.”
Lukashenko dismissed criticism of his jailing of political opponents, claiming they had chosen their fate. He also rejected claims that his recent decision to release over 250 individuals convicted of extremist activity was an attempt to improve relations with the West.
Speaking to media, he said, “I don’t give a damn about the West. We have never refused relations with the West. We have always been ready. But you do not want this. So, what should we do, bow before you or crawl on our knees?”
Throughout his rule, Lukashenko has adeptly balanced his country’s relationship with Russia, extracting economic benefits such as cheap oil and loans while maintaining Belarus’s sovereignty. However, the war in Ukraine has deepened his dependence on Putin. Belarus served as a launchpad for Putin’s invasion, and Russian tactical nuclear weapons have since been deployed on Belarusian soil. Opposition figures view this growing alignment with Russia as a threat to Belarus’s sovereignty and a tool of repression against dissent.
