European leaders mocked Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following his reelection on Sunday, a result widely denounced as undemocratic due to the notable absence of any credible opposition.
The election, which secured Lukashenko another five years in power, saw him claim 86.82 percent of the vote, according to Belarus’s Central Election Commission.
Opposition candidates who were permitted to stand are understood to have all been sympathetic to the long-serving president, leading critics to state that no genuine alternative was on offer to voters.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the day as “bitter for all those who long for freedom and democracy.” Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski expressed mock surprise at the result, sarcastically questioning whether the “only” 87 percent support for Lukashenko would leave space in the nation’s prisons for dissenters.
Tylko 87,6% Białorusinów kocha swojego baćkę?!
Czy reszta pomieści się we więzieniach?
— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) January 26, 2025Czech President Petr Pavel joined the chorus of condemnation, stating, “Lukashenko’s ‘elections’ were a mockery, they were intended to silence dissent.” Pavel emphasized his nation’s solidarity with the people of Belarus, calling for continued support for those fighting for democracy and freedom.
Lukashenko’s ‘elections’ were a mockery and designed to silence dissent. We stand in solidarity with the brave people of Belarus fighting for true democracy and freedom.
— Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) January 27, 2025The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the election illegitimate, citing systemic repression, widespread human rights violations, and suppression of opposition voices. “These so-called elections did not meet the basic parameters for democratic electoral processes,” the ministry stated, calling for the release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners in Belarus.
The European Union reinforced its stance, with foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos pledging to maintain sanctions against the Belarusian regime while supporting civil society and exiled opposition figures.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an exiled opposition leader whose husband remains imprisoned, labeled the vote a “farce.” She called on international leaders not to recognize the results, emphasizing that Belarus has become a state where “independent media and opposition parties have been destroyed, and prisons are filled with political prisoners.”
Tsikhanouskaya urged voters to reject the ballot by crossing off all candidates, highlighting the illegitimacy of the process. The Belarusian Electoral Commission confirmed that nearly 4 percent of voters did so.
She reiterated the dire conditions under Lukashenko’s regime, which has faced unprecedented protests since the controversial 2020 election.
In a combative four-hour news conference, Lukashenko dismissed Western criticism, stating, “I don’t give a damn about the West.” He accused exiled opposition members of endangering their families in Belarus and issued a chilling warning: “We will deal with you.”
The victory reinforces Lukashenko’s grip on a nation he has ruled since 1994.
