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  • Outcomes of the 2025 “presidential election” in Belarus

    February 04, 2025

    On January 26, 2025, a so-called “presidential election” took place in Belarus. It was a staged performance designed to keep Lukashenka in power and was defined by widespread fraud and repression. New laws criminalized independent vote counting and calls for a boycott. The results were predetermined, independent observation was banned, and election commissions were composed entirely of loyalists. 1.5 million Belarusians abroad were denied the right to vote.

    In response, the democratic forces launched a broad campaign of protests and international initiatives to draw attention to the illegitimacy of the process. Key solidarity rallies and international events included:

    • “Lukashenka to the Shredder” protests. Symbolic demonstrations took place in 12 countries: Slovenia, Sweden, Estonia, Poland, Austria, Italy, France, Latvia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States.
    • Rallies in Warsaw, Kyiv, Vilnius, and Berlin. Warsaw was the center of activities, with Belarusian democratic leaders, activists, and members of civil society gathering there.
    • The “Belarusians Deserve Better” Forum in Warsaw, where discussions focused on the democratic future of Belarus.
    • Concerts “Freedom is Our Choice” in Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, and Gdańsk.

    Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya actively participated in international conferences and panels on the sham election. She discussed the crisis in Belarus with global leaders during the World Economic Forum in Davos from January 20 to 24 and met with EU foreign ministers in Brussels on January 26 to discuss sanctions, Belarus’ future, and the non-recognition of the election.

    The international community largely rejected the election results. 41 countries, the EU, and 7 international organizations condemned the sham vote. Only a handful of authoritarian states, including Russia and China, recognized the outcome. This highlights the urgent need for further isolation of the regime, increased support for the democratic forces, and assistance to civil society.

    In response, the democratic forces call on the international community to:

    1️. Reject the fraudulent election

    • Condemn the process as entirely unfree and unfair.
    • Refuse to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate leader of Belarus.
    1. Increase pressure on the regime
    • Strengthen sanctions in response to repression and election fraud.
    • Close loopholes in sanctions and intensify economic pressure.
    • Target sectors that finance the dictatorship, including the defense industry, potash, and oil.

    3️. Enhance support for Belarus’ democratic forces

    • Maintain engagement with the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, and the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
    • Recognize these bodies as the legitimate representatives of the Belarusian people.

    4️. Support international initiatives

    • Invoke the Moscow Mechanism within the OSCE.
    • Support Lithuania’s referral of the regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court.
    • Organize an Arria-formula UN Security Council hearing on Belarus.
    • Increase support for independent media, human rights defenders, and the democratic forces.
    • Call on the UN to take an active role in securing the release of political prisoners.
    • Promote Belarus’ European perspective, showing that Europe is the alternative to dictatorship.

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