Presidential "election" in Belarus starts

Today, January 26, the so-called "election" for the country's president began in the Republic of Belarus. A total of five candidates were included in the ballot, including the current leader of Belarus, whose legitimacy is not recognized by a number of states.

The Belarusian state propaganda agency Belta reports on the course of the election.

Thus, 5,325 polling stations have been set up across the country, which will operate today from 8:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m.

Early voting was also held from January 21 to 25, and, as it is claimed, 41.81% of citizens listed on the voter lists voted.

In addition to the current leader of Belarus, data on four more candidates was included in the ballot.

The Belarusian Central Election Commission must establish the results of the "elections" within 10 days after the vote - no later than February 5, 2025.

Recall that Ukraine did not recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus after the election on August 9, 2020. According to the official results, Lukashenko won then, however, these results were not recognized by representatives of the opposition and a number of countries around the world. As a result of the election in Belarus, mass protests began, which lasted several months.

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since July 1994.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, regarding the scheduled presidential election in Belarus, noted that Ukraine does not see the prerequisites for the resumption of contacts with Aleksandr Lukashenko and the issue of recognizing his legitimacy is not relevant.

Ukraine shares the position of the European Union member states, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other democratic countries regarding the current lack of basic conditions in Belarus for holding fair and transparent elections in accordance with OSCE standards.

Also, on the eve of the election, the EU called the election in Belarus a "complete fiction" and an "absolutely undemocratic event" and added that the European Union continues to support the Belarusian people.