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Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus’s authoritarian leader and Putin ally, is running for a seventh term in a widely criticized election. Exiled Belarusians and international observers denounce the process as fraudulent and devoid of democratic legitimacy.

Elections Without Choice

The 2020 election in Belarus sparked mass protests after Lukashenko claimed an unlikely landslide victory. Tens of thousands of protesters rejected the results as rigged. The regime responded with brutal suppression, aided by Russia, silencing dissent and arresting opposition leaders.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran for president after her husband’s arrest, became the face of the opposition. She now lives in exile, alongside 600,000 other Belarusians, unable to vote or influence their country’s future. This year, Lukashenko moved the election to January, barred all opposition candidates, and continued his crackdown on dissent.

The European Commission has denounced the election as undemocratic. EU Spokesperson Anitta Hipper declared: “This is not an election when the winner is predetermined. It’s a farce.”

Exiled Voices of Resistance

Exiled Belarusians describe the election as meaningless under the current regime. Photographer Lesia Pcholka, who documented the 2020 protests, said: “I no longer have hope. Elections in Belarus are a ritual to show nothing changes.” Her photo book comparing the Belarusian protests to those in Hong Kong serves as a visual reminder of resilience.

Activist Andrei Gnyot, previously imprisoned and now in exile in Poland, echoed her disillusionment. “This is not an election. It’s a performance to deceive the world,” he said. He warned against international recognition of the process, stating it would only strengthen Lukashenko and worsen repression.

A Mockery of Democracy

Artist Uladzimir Hramovich, who fled Belarus after being jailed for protesting in 2020, called the election a mockery. “This process feels like an insult to those who sacrificed for change,” he said. Living in exile for nearly four years, he sees no sign of progress. “This is the seventh election under Lukashenko. Belarus has never known democracy, and nothing is changing.”

The regime continues to hold over 1,300 political prisoners while silencing opposition and dissent. Exiled Belarusians and international observers urge the world to reject the election’s legitimacy and support their fight for freedom.