Alexander Lukashenko, Europe’s longest-serving leader, has secured his 31-year rule in Belarus by winning the presidential election, a result that has been widely criticized as a sham by his exiled opponents and Western countries. Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, faced minimal opposition in this election, with one candidate openly admitting to running 'alongside' him rather than against him. Official results revealed that Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 86.8% of the vote.
This victory marks Lukashenko's seventh term in office and solidifies his control over Belarus, a key ally of Russia. Lukashenko's close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin have strengthened in recent years, particularly after facing significant opposition in the 2020 election from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was later forced into exile following mass protests against Lukashenko's regime.
