Steve RosenbergRussia editor
ReutersAlexander Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus since 1994There are instances in historical past when nations are gripped by means of election fever.January 2025 in Belarus isn’t certainly one of them.Pressure round Minsk and you can see no large billboards selling the portraits of applicants.There may be little campaigning.The gray skies and sleet of a Belarusian wintry weather upload to an overriding sense of state of being inactive.And inevitability.The end result of the 2025 presidential election isn’t doubtful. Alexander Lukashenko, as soon as dubbed “Europe’s final dictator,” who has dominated Belarus with an iron fist for greater than 30 years, can be declared the winner and protected a 7th time period in place of work.His supporters name it an workout in “Belarusian democracy”. His fighters reject the method as “a farce”.Even Mr Lukashenko himself claims to lack pastime within the procedure.”I am not following the election marketing campaign. I have were given no time,” the Belarusian chief advised employees on the Minsk Car Plant this week.The employees offered him with a present: an awl for slicing picket.”I’m going to test it out sooner than the election,” promised Mr Lukashenko, to rapturous applause.
You might be not going to peer billboards selling presidential applicants throughout Belarus – this show reminds voters to vote on 26 JanuaryFour-and-a-half years in the past, at a special undertaking, the chief of Belarus gained a far cooler reception.One week after the 2020 presidential election, Alexander Lukashenko visited the Minsk Wheels Tractor Plant. Leaked video confirmed him being jeered and heckled by means of employees. They shouted ‘”Move away! Move away!”.In 2020 the reputable election consequence – of 80% for Mr Lukashenko – had sparked anger and enormous protests around the nation. Belarusians poured onto the streets to accuse their chief of stealing their votes and the election.Within the brutal police crackdown that adopted, 1000’s of anti-government protesters and critics have been arrested. In the end the wave of repression extinguished the protests and, with assist from Russia, Mr Lukashenko clung to energy.The United Kingdom, the Eu Union and the USA refuse to recognise him because the official president of Belarus.Alexander Lukashenko’s staunchest fighters (and attainable opponents) are both in jail or were pressured into exile.This is the reason this week the Eu Parliament handed a solution calling at the EU to reject the impending presidential election as “a sham” and mentioning that the election marketing campaign has been going down “in an atmosphere of critical repression which fails to fulfill even the minimal requirements for democratic elections”.I be mindful interviewing Alexander Lukashenko final October, at the day the date of the presidential election was once introduced.”How can those elections be unfastened and democratic if the leaders of the opposition are in jail or out of the country?” I requested.”Do you in reality know who the leaders of the opposition are?” Mr Lukashenko hit again.”An opposition is a bunch of people that must serve the pursuits, on the very least, of a small choice of folks within the nation. The place are those leaders you talk of? Get up!”Alexander Lukashenko isn’t the only real candidate. There are 4 others. However they appear extra like spoilers, than critical challengers.
Communist chief Sergei Syrankov continues to be supporting Lukashenko, regardless of their names each being at the poll for presidentI force 4 hours from Minsk to fulfill certainly one of them. Sergei Syrankov is the chief of the Communist Birthday party of Belarus. Within the the town of Vitebsk I sit down in on certainly one of his marketing campaign occasions. In a big corridor Mr Syrankov addresses a small target audience, flanked by means of his birthday celebration’s brand, the hammer and sickle.His marketing campaign slogan is odd to mention the least: “No longer as a substitute of, however along side Lukashenko!”He’s a presidential candidate who overtly backs his opponent.”There’s no choice to Alexander Lukashenko because the chief of our nation,” Mr Syrankov tells me. “So, we’re collaborating within the election with the president’s crew.””Why do you suppose there’s no choice?” I ask.”As a result of Lukashenko is a person of the folk, a person of the soil, who has performed the whole thing to ensure we do not have the type of chaos they’ve in Ukraine.””You are preventing for energy your self, however you reinforce every other candidate. This is…odd,” I recommend.”I’m sure that Alexander Lukashenko will win a thumping victory. However even though he wins and I do not, the Communists would be the winners,” responds Mr Syrankov.”The principle Communist in our nation is our head of state. Lukashenko nonetheless has his outdated club card from the times of the Soviet Communist Birthday party.”
Oleg Gaidukevich, chief of the right-wing Liberal-Democratic Birthday party, says it’s “evident” Lukashenko will winAlso at the poll is Oleg Gaidukevich, chief of the right-wing Liberal-Democratic Birthday party of Belarus. He, too, is not operating to win.”If any person dares to indicate the end result of the election is not recognized, he is a liar,” Mr Gaidukevich tells me. “It is evident that Lukashenko will win. He has a large ranking….We are going to combat to reinforce our positions and get ready for the following election.”Mr Lukashenko’s critics reject the statement that his reputation is “huge”. However there’s no doubt he does have reinforce.
Oktyabrskaya resident Zenaida believes that whilst there could also be others “extra worthy of energy,” Lukashenko represents stabilityOn the brink of Vitebsk is the little the town of Oktyabrskaya. Speaking to folks there I stumble on worry {that a} alternate of chief might spark instability.”I need a solid wage, steadiness within the nation,” welder Sergei tells me. “Different applicants make guarantees, however would possibly now not stay them. I wish to stay what I have were given.””The placement lately could be very stressful,” says Zenaida. “Perhaps there are other folks worthy of energy. However by the point a more youthful chief will get his toes below the table, makes the ones essential connections with with different nations, and together with his personal folks that can take a very long time. “God forbid we must finally end up like Ukraine.”In Belarus lately there may be concern of instability, concern of the unknown, and concern of the federal government. All paintings in Alexander Lukashenko’s favour.
