**Belarus Leader Declares Himself President for Seventh Term**
On January 26, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself president for his seventh consecutive term. The election was widely deemed as neither free nor fair by the international community.
According to the Belarusian Election Commission, Lukashenko won 86.82% of the vote, followed by two little-known candidates who received around 5% of the vote combined. The commission claimed a turnout of 85.7%.
**Long History of Fraudulent Elections**
Lukashenko has been accused of staging fraudulent elections in Belarus since he took power in 1994. In 2020, during the last presidential election, Lukashenko maintained power despite widespread protests and international condemnation.
The opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, claimed she won with 60% of the vote but was forced into exile after the rigged election. Since then, over 60,000 citizens have been detained for political reasons, according to human rights group Viasna.
**International Condemnation**
The European Union’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, condemned the election as a “blatant affront to democracy” and said Lukashenko had no legitimacy. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also rejected the results, calling them a “special operation” to cling to power.
**Internet Shutdown Threatened**
Lukashenko has threatened to shut down the internet completely during future elections if protests arise. The country has allowed Russia to use its territory as a staging ground for operations against Ukraine and is reportedly hosting Russian tactical nuclear arms on its territory.
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