Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, and Aleksandr Lukashenko, president of Belarus (left) (left)
Aleksandr Lukashenko goes to the seventh term and is in power by 2030 in Belarus. But “pIt first time, democratic countries and international organizations did not recognize the ‘non -elections’. ”
The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenkoit was this Sunday reelected for a seventh term in the former Soviet Republic, with 87.60% of votesaccording to the first official polls in the ballot box.
In this way, Lukashenko, nicknamed “The Last Dictator of Europe” at the beginning of his term, will continue in power by 2030.
O Vote against all It was the second most supported option by Belarusians at the polls with 5.1% of the votes, according to the committee of Juvenile Organizations, author of the poll, on public television. The third in the race was the communist Sergei Sirankov, who openly supported the reelection of the Belarussian leader and added 2.7% of the votes.
Following are Oleg Gaidukevich, with 1.8%, lawyer Anna Kanopatskaya, with 1.6%, and Republican Alexandr Jizhniak, with 1.2%.
“A scam” with “a criminal” in power
The opposition in exile, which does not recognize Lukashenko as legitimate president, had asked his supporters to mark “against all” in the electoral bulletins, considering it the only possible form of peaceful protest.
Anna Kanopatskaya, who has been applied for five years, is the only one of the Belarussian presidential candidates who I dared to publicly criticize Lukashenko’s managementalthough the democratic opposition considers it a “KGB candidate.”
Speaking to EFE, Kanopatskaya guaranteed this week that The authoritarian model that Lukashenko imposed after reaching power in 1994 is exhausted And it is time for him to renounce office to reform the political and economic system.
The leader of the Belarusian opposition in exile, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, also classified presidential elections as “A Farce” and Lukashenko as “a criminal who took power.”
“What happens today in Belarus is a scam,” he said at a press conference held in Warsaw, ensuring that Lukashenko’s attempt legitimizes his power failed.
“All attempts to legitimize Lukashenko’s regime failed. For the first time, democratic countries and international organizations did not recognize the ‘non -elections’ even before they were accomplished, ”celebrated Tikhanovskaya, quoted by Belarussian television Zerkalo.
According to Tikhanovskaya, both the United States and 37 OSCE countries [Organização para a Segurança e Cooperação na Europa]They have already made statements to reject recognize the Belarusian elections.
“There will be authoritarian countries that will support Lukashenko, but democratic and independent states are on the side of the Belarusians in the fight against dictatorship,” he said.
The EU high representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, said on Saturday that Lukashenko’s self -proclamation as president of Belarus after the elections is a “Affronta flagrant to democracy” and reiterated that Lukashenko “has no legitimacy”.
The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, also sent a message to the people of Belarus, asking them to remain strong and, ensuring them the support of the EU, said “the dictatorship will end.”
In the previous presidential, in 2020, neither opposition nor the West recognized Lukashenko’s victory, triggering the country’s greatest protests in the country and unprecedented police repression.
The Belarusians living abroad could not vote. After mass protests in the 2020 elections, the Belarusian authorities ceased to install voting assemblies in the diplomatic missions.
This year, protesters claimed one in favor of Lukashenko and argued that most people effectively support Sviatlana Tsikhaouskaya, their main opposition rival.
Repression continues following the 2020 protests, with more than 1,200 political prisoners currently detained. However, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians fled the country.
Putin highlights “unquestionable support from the population”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated his Belarusian counterpart this Monday for his “Victory convincing” at the polls and their reelection for a seventh term.
“The convincing victory in the elections clearly demonstrates its high political authority, as well as the Unquestionable support from the population As the government is following in Belarus, ”Putin told Lukashenko in a congratulations message, published on the Russian presidency portal.
“I sincerely wish you new successes in your work as head of state for the benefit of the fraternal people of Belarus, as well as good health and well-being,” he added.
Putin highlighted the recent progress in reinforcing friendly ties between Moscow and Minsk, ensuring that joint work will continue to develop Russian-Belorrussian cooperation.
We are a brutal democracy, says Lukashenko
After voting at a Minsk voting assembly, Lukashenko went to journalists to stress that he doesn’t care if Western countries recognize Sunday’s presidential elections.
“Be recognized or not by the European Union (EU) It is a matter of taste. Believe me, it doesn’t make me absolutely any difference. The important thing is that the elections are recognized by the Belarusians, ”he said.
Moscow’s ally, Lukashenko, 70 years old and 30 in power, also argued that Belarus is a “brutal democracy.”
“We have a brutal democracy in Belarus. We don’t press anyone and we don’t silence anyone, ”he said.
Lukashenko added that the political prisoners arrested in the country may ask for forgiveness, but ruled out any dialogue with the opposition in exile.
Lukashenko, in August last year, a law that criminalizes violence and threats to former presidents, in what was seen as a preparation for a possible departure of power, which will not happen anytime soon.
