Belarus Holds "Presidential Election" with No Independent Candidates

January 26 marks the main voting day in Belarus's "presidential election." Polls will remain open until 8:00 PM.

The ballot includes five candidates:

• Alexander Lukashenko
• Hanna Kanapatskaya
• Alexander Khizhnyak
• Siarhej Syrankou
• Aleg Haidukevich

There are no opposition candidates in this "election," as the campaign, like the past five years, has been accompanied by widespread repression and an atmosphere of fear created by the authorities and state propaganda.

The History of Elections in Belarus

Western countries and international organizations have not recognized the results of presidential elections in Belarus since 1994. According to Western observers, media, and human rights organizations, all elections since then have been neither free nor fair, with widespread falsifications favoring Lukashenko.

In the 2020 election, data from the "Golos" platform and Chatham House surveys suggest that Alexander Lukashenko likely lost to independent candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Following a wave of protests across the country, mass detentions and prosecutions of dissenters began.

As of January 2025, Belarus has over 1,200 political prisoners.