Lukashenko Secures Seventh Term in Belarus Amid Dismissal of Election Legitimacy

The longtime leader, in power since 1994, faces international condemnation for a vote widely seen as undemocratic and repressive.

Alexander Lukashenko, 70, claims victory with 87.6% of the vote in a heavily criticized election lacking genuine opposition.
The European Union and human rights organizations have dismissed the election as a 'masquerade' and an 'affront to democracy.'
Over 300,000 Belarusians have fled the country since 2020 due to political repression, with more than 1,200 political prisoners still detained.
Lukashenko's regime has aligned closely with Russia, providing support for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and hosting Russian nuclear weapons since 2023.
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, in exile, has called the election a 'farce' and urged Belarusians to reject the results.