“`html
Individuals in Belarus have commenced casting their votes in the presidential election, which is virtually guaranteed to prolong the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.
The authoritarian figure is anticipated to secure his seventh term in the leadership during today’s election, thereby extending his tenure to an unprecedented 31 years.
Voters were photographed making their way to polling stations in the nation’s capital, Minsk. A total of 6.9 million citizens are registered to participate before the polls close at 5 PM UK time.
Though four opposition figures are featured on the ballots, all remain loyal to Mr. Lukashenko and have commended his administration.
Yesterday, Sergei Syrankov, leader of the Community Party of Belarus, informed Sky News’ Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett that Mr. Lukashenko is affectionately known as Bat’ka, which translates to father.
Mr. Lukashenko’s dog Umka accompanied him during his vote. Pic: Reuters
Many genuine adversaries of the current president are either incarcerated or have been forced into exile due to a severe crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression.
This follows widespread protests after the 2020 election challenged his legitimacy, with Western authorities endorsing the opposition’s claims that he manipulated the results, depriving the candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya of victory.
The protests persisted for several months, resulting in the arrest of over 65,000 individuals, many of whom continue to languish in prison.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus amid governmental pressure, stated to The Associated Press that today’s election is “a meaningless charade, a Lukashenko tradition”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in 2020. Pic: Reuters
Voters casting their votes in Minsk. Pic: Reuters/Evgenia Novozhenina
In anticipation of this election year, polling locations have eliminated the screens that shield ballot boxes, and voters are prohibited from photographing their ballots—this is in response to the opposition’s initiative in 2020 encouraging voters to capture images to complicate potential voting fraud.
Law enforcement has also undertaken extensive drills prior to the election as a preparatory measure against potential protests.
During a press conference while casting his ballot on Sunday, Mr. Lukashenko remarked that some of his adversaries had “chosen” imprisonment, asserting that no one was being obstructed from voicing their opinions in the nation.
“We did not expel anyone from the country,” he stated, adding: “[However, prison was] for those who spoke too freely, to put it plainly, those who transgressed the law.”
Please utilize Chrome browser for an enhanced video player experience
Belarus president set to extend rule
The president has consistently asserted that he is not clinging to power following the recent election and would “silently and peacefully pass it on to the new generation”.
Read more from Sky News:
Trump lauds Starmer for performing ‘very well’
CIA believes lab leak is the most probable cause of the COVID outbreak
Since July of the previous year, he has also granted clemency to over 250 individuals identified as political prisoners by activists.
Artyom Shraybman, an expert on Belarus with the Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Centre, informed Reuters that Mr. Lukashenko intends to leverage the pardons and his electoral success to begin mitigating his total reliance on Russia and initiate dialogue with the West regarding the reduction of sanctions.
