Polls open in Belarus with Lukashenko’s 30-year rule set to be extended
GuardianJAN 22
Belarus Election: Lukashenko Wins 7th Term
Above: Belarusian Pres. Alexander Lukashenko casts his ballot at a polling station in Minsk, Belarus on Jan. 26, 2025. Image copyright: Belarusian Presidency/Handout/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Belarus maintains a tough democracy that doesn't silence anyone, with Lukashenko guaranteeing peace and order in the country while preventing the chaos that protest leaders attempted to sow in 2020. The government has successfully preserved stability and improved living conditions since Lukashenko first took office, maintaining crucial economic and political ties with Russia and furthering regional stability.
Narrative B
The election represents a complete farce lacking any democratic legitimacy, conducted amid unprecedented repression of human rights and restrictions on political participation. The regime has imprisoned or forced into exile all genuine opposition figures while allowing only hand-picked candidates to create an illusion of competition.
Narrative C
Many Belarusians viewed the 2025 national election in a state of apathy, shaped by fears of instability and the suffocating inevitability of Lukashenko's victory. While Western critics denounce the process as undemocratic and regime loyalists champion it as essential, most Belarusians' focus is to preserve safety and stability in their everyday lives.