Lukashenko's Repressive Regime Tightens Grip After Disputed Belarus Election

Alexander Lukashenko claims victory with 86.82% in a widely condemned election as opposition and press freedoms face severe crackdowns.

Alexander Lukashenko declared victory in Belarus's presidential election, claiming 86.82% of the vote, though the election is widely regarded as fraudulent by international observers and opposition leaders.
The election lacked independent oversight, with no OSCE observers present and voting restrictions imposed on Belarusians living abroad.
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, in exile, called the election a 'fraud' and urged Belarusians to refrain from protests until a more opportune moment arises.
Press freedom remains under siege, with 31 journalists currently imprisoned under charges like 'extremism,' and hundreds forced into exile since the 2020 protests against Lukashenko's regime.
Reporters Without Borders has filed a case with the International Criminal Court, accusing Lukashenko of crimes against humanity for his regime's systematic persecution of journalists.