Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin and supporter of the war in Ukraine, is running for his seventh term in office. Once again, this election process is widely viewed as fraudulent, with exiled Belarusians and international observers denouncing its lack of legitimacy.
A Familiar Pattern of Rigged Elections and Suppression
Lukashenko, in power since 1994, seeks to extend his presidency in what many call a preordained outcome. His previous election in 2020 triggered mass protests, lasting for months, against what was widely seen as a rigged result. During that election, the electoral commission in Minsk declared Lukashenko the winner with 80.1% of the vote and a voter turnout of 84.38%. However, tens of thousands of protesters rejected these figures as fabricated.
In response to the protests, Lukashenko violently suppressed dissent with Russia’s assistance. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emerged as a prominent figure after her husband, Syarhei, was arrested while running for president. Tsikhanouskaya eventually fled Belarus, joining an estimated 600,000 Belarusians now living in exile. Yet, Belarusians abroad remain disenfranchised and unable to participate in the election.
Human rights organization Viasna reports that the regime currently holds about 1,300 political prisoners. To prevent a repeat of the 2020 protests, Lukashenko allegedly shifted this year’s election to January, a cold and less mobilizing time for mass demonstrations. Additionally, all opposition candidates have been barred from running. The European Commission has called the elections a sham. EU Spokesperson Anitta Hipper stated: “This is completely undemocratic. These elections are a farce. It cannot be considered an election when the outcome is already known.”
Voices of Exiled Belarusians
Belarusian activists and opposition figures in exile have expressed their anger, frustration, and despair over the current state of their homeland.
Lesia Pcholka, a photographer and archivist based between Berlin and Bielsk Podlaski, shared her disillusionment. She recently released a photo book comparing images of the 2020 protests in Belarus with those of Hong Kong’s 2019-2020 demonstrations. Reflecting on the upcoming election, she remarked: “This election doesn’t stir any emotions in me. After the 2020 protests, I experienced fear, loss, and pain through countless court cases. I have no hopes or expectations anymore.”
Pcholka believes the outcome is predetermined and sees no possibility for change. “Elections in authoritarian regimes are not real elections. They are rituals repeated to reinforce the message that nothing ever changes,” she said.
Journalist and activist Andrei Gnyot echoed similar sentiments. Gnyot, who was imprisoned in Serbia for over a year on charges of tax evasion, believes Lukashenko’s regime systematically targets those involved in the 2020 protests. Now in Poland, awaiting asylum, Gnyot expressed his anger over the situation: “Some people still believe there are elections in Belarus. This is not an election—it’s a staged performance.”
He warned against recognizing the election’s legitimacy, stating, “Acknowledging these so-called elections will only embolden the dictatorship. It will increase repression and expand Lukashenko’s influence abroad.” Gnyot emphasized the suffering of ordinary Belarusians: “Thousands are tortured in prisons, and millions live in constant fear—unable to speak, call, or even think freely.”
A Mockery of Democracy
For artist Uladzimir Hramovich, who now lives in Berlin after fleeing Belarus, the election feels like a mockery of the sacrifices made by his compatriots. Hramovich was among those imprisoned after the 2020 protests and has lived in exile ever since.
“These elections remind me of everything we lost. After 2020, my life changed completely. We thought we’d return home in a few months, but now it’s been nearly four years,” he said.
He views the election as an insult to those who fought for change. “This is nothing but a hollow performance, devoid of any competition. It’s a cruel exploitation of the sacrifices made by those who chose a different path years ago,” he concluded.
The 2024 elections in Belarus are another grim chapter in the country’s history of repression. With opposition silenced, democratic institutions dismantled, and the public living in fear, the situation continues to deteriorate. Exiled Belarusians and international observers stress the urgent need for global action to challenge Lukashenko’s authoritarian grip and support the country’s fight for freedom.