Belarus elections: Lukashenko dismisses West, claims to vote ‘for everyone’

At the polling station, Lukashenko told propagandists that he had voted “for everyone.”

He also commented on the European Parliament’s resolution declaring the elections in Belarus illegitimate, calling it “kowtowing to their older brothers in Washington.” Lukashenko claimed that nothing would change in Belarus even if the West refused to recognize the election results.

“Whether you in the European Union recognize these elections or not, that’s a matter of taste. Believe me, I swear, I couldn’t care less whether you recognize our elections. What matters to me is that Belarusians recognize these elections and that they conclude as calmly as they started,” Lukashenko said.

He added that preliminary results of the elections would be known in Belarus by the morning of Jan. 27.

Belarus’ 2025 presidential elections

Early voting for the presidential elections in Belarus took place from Jan. 21 to Jan. 25. According to the Central Election Commission, 41.81% of voters cast their ballots during this period.

On Jan. 26, the main election day began at 8 a.m. local time, with 5,325 polling stations open across the country. However, the vote is once again being conducted without international observers.

Aside from dictator Lukashenko, four other candidates were registered in the race. They are described as technical candidates since no opposition or free media remains in the country.

On Jan. 21, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the illegitimate elections in Belarus, urging the EU to declare them fraudulent due to the lack of democratic standards and the country’s repressive environment.

On Jan. 23, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stated that the election results in Belarus were predetermined. Ukraine expressed solidarity with the positions of EU member states, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other democratic nations regarding the lack of basic conditions for fair elections in Belarus, as defined by OSCE standards.

Alexander Lukashenko has been in power in Belarus since 1994. In 2022, he signed amendments to the Constitution, allowing him to remain in office until 2035.