EU declares Belarus elections illegitimate
Photo: EU condemned so-called elections in Belarus (Getty Images)
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said that the elections in Belarus were illegitimate due to falsifications, repressions, and restrictions on citizens' rights. At the same time, the European Union calls for the immediate release of political prisoners.
"Today’s sham election in Belarus has been neither free nor fair. The people of Belarus deserve a real say in who governs their countr," Kallas stated.
She noted that the ruthless and unprecedented repression of human rights, restrictions on political participation, and the lack of access to independent media in Belarus have deprived the electoral process of any legitimacy.
"We urge the regime to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, over a thousand of whom are arbitrarily detained, including an employee of the Delegation of the European Union," emphasized the EU's top diplomat.
Kallas also stated that the EU will continue to impose restrictive and targeted measures against the regime while providing financial support to civil society and Belarusian democratic forces.
"Once Belarus embarks on a democratic transition, the EU is ready to support the country stabilise its economy and reform its institutions.," she concluded.
Elections in Belarus
On January 26, so-called presidential elections are taking place in Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for 30 years, has put forward his candidacy for the seventh time.
The last elections in 2020 ended in protests as the results were falsified. Many opposition politicians were imprisoned, and opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fled Belarus.
The EU declared that it considers the elections in Belarus a sham and Lukashenko illegitimate.
It should be noted that Lukashenko himself complained that he had no replacement, which is allegedly why he had to run in the elections again.
