Lukashenko: I Will Run for President in 2025; USA: Elections in Belarus Are Fabricated

The Belarusian state news agency reported on Sunday, March 6, that Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, will once again run in the presidential elections in 2025. After voting in the parliamentary and local council elections, Lukashenko told reporters, 'Tell them (the exiled opposition) that I am running.' The U.S. State Department described the parliamentary and local elections held on Sunday in Belarus as 'fabricated.' Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, stated in the announcement, 'Elections held in an atmosphere of fear and lacking any electoral processes cannot be called democratic.' The statement further noted that the Belarusian regime continues to hold more than 1,400 political prisoners, including independent political figures, and has exiled several of them. Miller mentioned that parties in Belarus have refrained from participating in the elections, stating, 'Belarusians abroad can only vote if they return to Minsk and will likely face retribution.' The statement added that the Belarusian regime has created an environment in which 'real political activities and discourses are effectively frozen.' The Belarusian regime has barred the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe from monitoring the elections to prevent transparency in the electoral process, which is essential for conducting free and fair elections. Alexander Lukashenko, 69, has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for nearly three decades, relying on subsidies and enjoying political support from Russia. Moscow's support helped him survive large protests against his re-election in the 2020 vote, which opponents and the West criticized for fraud. According to Politico, Lukashenko signed a law in January that grants him and all assets provided by the government lifelong immunity in the event of resignation from the presidency. In February 2022, he allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to send troops to Ukraine. The European Union has approved a new sanctions package against Russia.