Four-and-a-half years ago, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko faced a starkly different reception at the Minsk Wheels Tractor Plant. Just one week after the contentious 2020 presidential election, leaked video footage captured workers jeering and shouting, “Go away! Go away!” This moment encapsulated the widespread anger that followed the official election results, which declared Lukashenko the winner with 80% of the vote. Belarusians took to the streets en masse, accusing their leader of electoral fraud and stealing their votes.
The aftermath of the election was marked by a brutal police crackdown. Thousands of anti-government protesters and critics were arrested, and the wave of repression, bolstered by support from Russia, eventually quelled the protests. Despite this, the UK, the European Union, and the United States have refused to recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president of belarus. His staunchest opponents and potential rivals are either imprisoned or have been forced into exile, leaving little room for dissent.
This week, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the upcoming presidential election as ”a sham,” highlighting that the campaign is taking place “in an habitat of severe repression which fails to meet even the minimum standards for democratic elections.” This sentiment echoes the concerns raised during an interview with Lukashenko last October, when the date of the presidential election was announced. when questioned about the fairness of the elections, Lukashenko retorted, ”Do you actually know who the leaders of the opposition are? An opposition is a group of people who shoudl serve the interests, at the very least, of a small number of people in the country. Where are these leaders you speak of? Wake up!”
While Lukashenko is not the sole candidate in the upcoming election,the four other contenders appear more as spoilers than serious challengers. The political landscape in Belarus remains heavily skewed in favor of the incumbent, with little possibility for genuine opposition to emerge.
Key Points Summary
| Event | Details |
|——————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| 2020 Election Results | Lukashenko declared winner with 80% of the vote, sparking nationwide protests. |
| Protests & crackdown | Thousands arrested in brutal police crackdown; protests eventually quelled. |
| International Response | UK, EU, and US refuse to recognize Lukashenko as legitimate president. |
| Opposition Status | Key opponents imprisoned or exiled; no viable challengers in upcoming election. |
| European Parliament resolution | Calls upcoming election “a sham,” citing severe repression and lack of democratic standards.|
The political climate in Belarus remains tense, with Lukashenko’s grip on power seemingly unshaken. As the country approaches another election, the international community continues to scrutinize the legitimacy of the process, while Belarusians grapple with the enduring consequences of the 2020 upheaval.
