Britain and Canada imposed fresh sanctions on Belarus after Alexander Lukashenko won his seventh term as president with 86.82 percent of votes in an election Western powers called illegitimate.
The UK Foreign Office sanctioned six Belarusian officials and three defence companies on Monday, targeting prison chiefs and the head of the Central Election Commission. The sanctions aim to punish those behind human rights breaches and companies backing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Lukashenko “brutally represses civil society and opposition voices to strengthen his grip on power.” The Viasna Human Rights Centre reports over 1,250 political prisoners remain in Belarus.
EU Divisions Surface Over Election Response
Hungary blocked a joint EU statement rejecting the election, preventing unified condemnation from all 27 member states. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas issued her own statement calling the vote “neither free, nor fair” and criticising Belarus’s late invitation to international monitors.
The Belarus Foreign Ministry fired back, telling Western nations to address their own “systemic problems” and “growing internal discord” rather than criticise Belarus. The ministry said sanctions would not alter Belarus’s chosen path.
Opposition and International Response
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called Lukashenko’s win “sheer nonsense.” Before the vote, she urged Belarusians to cross out every candidate’s name on their ballots. The four challengers who ran against Lukashenko had all praised his leadership.
Russia and China welcomed the election results. Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned Lukashenko to congratulate him on his “convincing victory,” while Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent congratulations.
Lukashenko Dismisses Western Criticism
At a press conference after voting, Lukashenko said he did not care whether the West recognised the election. “Whether you recognise the election or not is a matter of taste[.] The main thing for me is that Belarusians recognise the election and that it ends as quietly as it began.”
Lukashenko warned that Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency would create problems for Europe rather than Belarus. “With Trump’s return, the problems won’t be in Belarus, they will be in Europe. They’ve already begun.”
Three Decades of Power
Lukashenko has held power since 1994 by maintaining tight control over Belarus’s institutions. The police, military, and security services remain loyal, while independent media outlets have been closed and civil society groups face constant pressure. His 2020 election win sparked unprecedented protests, during which thousands faced beatings and over 65,000 arrests.
The current system rests on three pillars: unwavering support from Putin’s Russia through subsidies and diplomatic backing, an extensive internal security apparatus that swiftly crushes dissent, and a state-controlled economy that makes many Belarusians dependent on government employment.
This structure has let Lukashenko weather Western sanctions and pressure while cementing his position as Europe’s longest-serving head of state.
Keep up with Daily Euro Times for more updates!
Read also:
Vladimir Putin: 25 Years in Power
UK, Ukraine Sign Century-Long Security Deal
Venezuela Busts Foreigners Before Maduro’s Inauguration
