Maroc - EURASIAREVIEW.COM - A la une - 28/Jan 00:47

Belarus: Western Nations Condemn Election That Hands Lukashenko Seventh Term

(RFE/RL) -- A group of Western countries decried the outcome of a presidential vote over the weekend that handed Belarusian authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenko a seventh term in office, saying the election couldn't be considered free nor fair given the regime's current clampdown on civil society. Hours after Belarus' Central Election Commission on January 27 announced preliminary results giving Lukashenko 86.8 percent of the vote in the election, Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, and Britain issued a joint statement condemning the "sham" presidential election. "No election can be considered free, fair or in line with international standards when it is held in a climate of ongoing repression, marked by a clampdown on civil society, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on genuine political participation," the countries said in a joint statement on January 27. In the vote, which barred the presence of international media and Western observers, Lukashenko ran against four other candidates, all of whom supported his government and its policies. His closest competitor, Syarhey Syrankou, received just 3.2 percent. Lukashenko, who has been in power for three decades, dismissed all criticism of the election, as did Moscow, Minsk's closest ally. But the opposition, rights groups, as well as the West disagree The Washington-based Freedom House advocacy group in its latest report has described Belarus as "an authoritarian state in which elections are openly rigged and civil liberties are severely restricted." Lithuania-based opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya wrote on X on January 26 that rallies against the election were taking place in cities across Europe, adding: "Belarus demands freedom." Britain and Canada both issued new sanctions targeting Belarusian officials and defense companies, including Ihar Karpenka, the chairman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission. “Today, we are sending a clear message to...Lukashenko: Canada will not remain silent as his regime continues to trample on the rights and freedoms of Belarusian citizens and to support Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine," Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement. "We remain in solidarity with the Belarusian people, as well as the Belarusian democratic forces, and we will continue to support their efforts toward establishing a real democracy in Belarus.” Lukashenko has dismissed the criticism and shrugged off remarks from Western leaders. "Recognize these elections or not: It's a matter of taste. I don't care about it. The main thing for me is that Belarusians recognize these elections," he told reporters. Meanwhile, Kallas announced on January 27 continued support for Belarusian democratic forces during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. She stressed that on the evening of January 26, Tsikhanouskaya addressed EU foreign ministers in Brussels at Kallas’ invitation, alongside EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. Discussions centered on the non-recognition of the elections and Lukashenko’s legitimacy, peaceful negotiations on Ukraine, visa and residency issues, and broader support for Belarusian civil society and democratic movements. Kallas and Marta Kos, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, issued a formal declaration on behalf of the EU, rejecting the legitimacy of the elections and Lukashenko’s regime. Additionally, more than 15 EU member states made individual statements, and the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) released a joint declaration condemning the elections.