Alexander Lukashenko claims 87.6% of the vote in the Belarusian „presidential election,” according to a state-run exit poll. Sunday’s election is not recognized as democratic by the Belarusian opposition or Western countries. Previous elections have also been strongly criticized on the international stage.
The „election” was held in the absence of independent candidates opposing Lukashenko, free media, and under the shadow of government repression, including measures targeting the families of opposition members.
According to state-controlled Belarusian media, Lukashenko secured 87.6% of the vote, as reported by the official exit poll.
The opposition describes the process as a „non-election,” pointing to the lack of real opponents and any possibility of a democratic process. Apart from Lukashenko, five other candidates participated, though all served as mere puppets in the process.
Lukashenko has ruled Belarus uninterrupted for 31 years and was confident of another victory leading up to Sunday’s „election.”
Sharp Reaction from Tsikhanouskaya
„If the dictator thought his sham 'election’ would grant him legitimacy, he was gravely mistaken. The democratic world is uniting to reject this farce and to support Belarusians in our call for freedom. This is not an election but a 'special operation’ to unlawfully cling to power. Lukashenko, backed by Putin, is taking 9 million Belarusians hostage, dragging us into war, and betraying our sovereignty. We will never accept him. He does not represent Belarus. The regime must end its repression, release political prisoners, and be held accountable for its crimes. Belarusians will prevail!” wrote Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
On Sunday, Alexander Lukashenko cast his vote in the manipulated presidential election and then made an absurd statement to a Polish journalist.
„You are preparing an intervention against us,” Lukashenko said after voting, addressing the Polish journalist. According to the Belarusian dictator, authorities in Warsaw are training Belarusian opposition members on Polish territory. His statement was reported by the pro-Putin news agency TASS.
