Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko seemed poised to secure his 31-year rule with a significant victory in the presidential election on Sunday, which Western governments dismissed as fraudulent. An exit poll aired on state TV indicated Lukashenko would secure nearly 88% of the vote. Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had previously justified his imprisonment of dissidents, stating, "I don't give a damn about the West."
Critics in Europe contended that the election was neither free nor fair due to the absence of independent media in Belarus and the exile or incarceration of prominent opposition figures. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock lamented on X, "The people of Belarus had no choice. It is a bitter day for all those who long for freedom & democracy." Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski sarcastically quipped on X, "Will the rest fit inside the prisons?" in regard to Lukashenko winning 87.6% of the vote.
In response to inquiries about the imprisonment of his opponents, Lukashenko asserted they had "chosen" their destinies. He defended the arrests, stating at a lengthy press conference that prison was for those who broke the law by speaking out too boldly.
Turnout for the election was reported at 85.7%, with 6.9 million eligible voters. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, now in exile, characterized Lukashenko's reelection as a dictatorial "ritual." Protests against Lukashenko were staged in Warsaw and other Eastern European cities.
Despite international condemnation, Lukashenko dismissed criticism and emphasized that he was unconcerned with Western recognition of the election results. Both the EU and the US refused to acknowledge him as a legitimate leader, citing his use of security forces to suppress protests after the 2020 election.
While there was no significant challenger to Lukashenko in the recent election, he faces complex decisions in his next term regarding relations with Russia, the West, and potential peace talks in Ukraine.conomic sanctions.