Lukashenko wins Belarus election with 87.6 per cent of vote: exit poll
Alexander Lukashenko has secured a seventh consecutive term as President of Belarus in an election widely criticized as a "sham" by Western nations. According to state exit polls, Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994 and is closely aligned with Moscow, won 87.6% of the vote. This result comes amid a political landscape where all significant opposition figures are either imprisoned or in exile, highlighting the lack of genuine competition in the election.
The European Union, maintaining its stance from past elections, has refused to lift sanctions against Lukashenko's government. These sanctions were initially imposed following severe crackdowns on protests after the 2020 elections, which were similarly marred by accusations of unfair practices. EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, emphasized that democracy relies on free and fair elections, a standard not met in Belarus. Kallas also pointed out Belarus's role in supporting Russia's military actions in Ukraine and its antagonistic measures against neighboring countries, reinforcing the EU's decision to continue targeted sanctions against the regime.
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Alexander Lukashenko has secured a seventh consecutive term as President of Belarus in an election widely criticized as a "sham" by Western nations. According to state exit polls, Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994 and is closely aligned with Moscow, won 87.6% of the vote. This result comes amid a political landscape where all significant opposition figures are either imprisoned or in exile, highlighting the lack of genuine competition in the election.
The European Union, maintaining its stance from past elections, has refused to lift sanctions against Lukashenko's government. These sanctions were initially imposed following severe crackdowns on protests after the 2020 elections, which were similarly marred by accusations of unfair practices. EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, emphasized that democracy relies on free and fair elections, a standard not met in Belarus. Kallas also pointed out Belarus's role in supporting Russia's military actions in Ukraine and its antagonistic measures against neighboring countries, reinforcing the EU's decision to continue targeted sanctions against the regime.
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