Lukashenko Claims Landslide Victory in “Sham” Belarusian Election

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has secured a controversial seventh term in an election widely condemned by Western governments as a “sham” designed to solidify his authoritarian grip on power.

The Central Election Committee reported on Monday that Lukashenko received 86.8% of the vote, with an almost identical voter turnout figure of 87%. However, the election was marred by the absence of credible opposition, independent observers, and any semblance of democratic competition.

No Opposition, No Oversight

The ballot featured four candidates, all handpicked to present no real challenge to Lukashenko’s rule. Genuine opposition figures were barred from running, with many in prison or forced into exile. Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claimed victory in the disputed 2020 election, dismissed the latest vote as “yet another political farce.”

Tikhanovskaya rose to prominence after stepping in for her husband, who was jailed during the 2020 campaign. Her surprising popularity led to widespread protests, which were brutally suppressed by Belarusian authorities.

Since then, Lukashenko has systematically dismantled opposition forces, shuttered independent media outlets, and tightened his control over Belarusian society.

International Reactions

Western leaders condemned the election results, with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, calling the vote a “blatant affront to democracy.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Belarusians had been denied a real choice.

In stark contrast, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Lukashenko on his “solid victory,” describing the election as “legitimate, well-organised, and transparent.” Leaders from China, Venezuela, and Pakistan also extended their congratulations to the Belarusian president.

Lukashenko’s Defiance

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Lukashenko dismissed criticism of his regime and denied forcing opposition figures into exile. “We never forced anyone out of the country,” he said, adding that he was indifferent to whether Western nations recognised the election.

His comments underline a deepening rift between Belarus and Western democracies, as the country continues to align itself more closely with Moscow.

A Nation in Lockdown

Lukashenko, often described as “Europe’s last dictator,” has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994. Under his leadership, dissent has been crushed, elections have been widely discredited, and the state’s security apparatus has been deployed to silence criticism.

As Belarus becomes increasingly isolated on the global stage, its citizens face a grim reality: a future with little political freedom, no independent media, and no legitimate mechanism for change.

While Lukashenko celebrates his latest “victory,” his critics remain silenced, exiled, or imprisoned—underscoring the erosion of democracy in a country under his firm control.