Four and a half years ago, at another enterprise, the Belarusian leader received a much cool reception.
A week after the 2020 presidential election, Alexander Lukashenko visited the Minsk circle tractor plant. The stubborn video showed that he was worked and praised by the workers. They shouted, “Go!”.
In 2020, the official election result – 80% for Mr. Lukashenko – caused anger and huge protests across the country. Belarusians resulted on the streets to accuse their leader of theft and elections.
As a result of violent police repression, thousands of anti -government protesters and critics were arrested. In the end, the wave of repression extinguished the protests and with the help of Russia, Mr. Lukashenko clung to power.
The UK, the European Union and the US refuse to recognize it legal president of Belarus.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s most durable opponents (and potential competitors) are either in prison or were forced to exile.
That is why this week the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the EU to reject the upcoming presidential election as a “false” and noting that the election campaign was “in the environment of serious repressions that did not even meet the minimum standards for democratic elections.”
I remember Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s poll in October last yearOn the day the date of the presidential election was announced.
“How can this election be free and democratic when opposition leaders are in prison or abroad?” I asked.
“Do you really know who the opposition leaders are?” Mr. Lukashenko struck back.
“The opposition is a group of people who should serve as a small number of people in the country. Where are these leaders say? Wake up!”
Alexander Lukashenko is not the only candidate. There are four more. But they look more like spoilers than serious applicants.
