Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has secured another term in office on Monday, extending his 31-year rule after electoral officials declared him the winner of a presidential election widely condemned by Western governments as fraudulent.
According to initial results, Lukashenko won 86.8% of the vote, facing no serious competition from the four other candidates on the ballot.
However, European leaders criticised the election process, citing the absence of independent media and the imprisonment or exile of leading opposition figures.
“The people of Belarus had no choice. It is a bitter day for all those who long for freedom & democracy,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock posted on X.
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for tougher Western sanctions on Belarusian companies and individuals accused of repressing opponents and supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“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,” she said.
In a joint statement, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos reaffirmed the bloc’s stance against Lukashenko’s government, vowing to maintain “restrictive and targeted measures against the regime” while continuing support for Belarusian civil society and the exiled opposition.
Lukashenko, who has been accused of systematically cracking down on dissent, dismissed concerns about the jailing of his opponents, asserting that they had “chosen” their own fate.
He also rejected claims that his recent decision to release more than 250 individuals convicted of “extremist” activity was an attempt to gain favor with Western powers.
“I don’t give a damn about the West,” he said during a lengthy news conference that stretched over four hours. “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 tenure, Lukashenko has maintained close ties with Russia, securing economic benefits such as cheap oil and financial aid while asserting Belarus’ sovereignty and preventing the country of nine million from being fully absorbed by its larger neighbor.
Boluwatife Enome
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