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EU Rejects Belarus Election, Threatens New Sanctions

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gestures while speaking to the media after voting in presidential elections in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

The European Union has declared the recent election in Belarus as illegitimate and has threatened to impose new sanctions in response. The election, which took place on Sunday, was widely viewed as orchestrated to ensure the victory of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has held power for over three decades.

EU officials stated that the election was neither free nor fair, citing the severe repression of human rights, limitations on political participation, and lack of access to independent media in Belarus. They emphasized that these factors had stripped the electoral process of any legitimacy.

The EU called on the Belarusian government to release more than 1,000 political prisoners, including an EU delegation employee in Minsk. The last-minute invitation to observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe hindered their ability to effectively monitor the election process.

In addition to condemning Belarus' involvement in Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its hybrid attacks on neighboring countries, the EU announced its intention to continue implementing restrictive measures against the Belarusian government. The specifics of these new sanctions were not disclosed, nor was a timeline provided.

EU officials are scheduled to meet with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Brussels for an informal dinner on Sunday night. The meeting is expected to address the ongoing political situation in Belarus and explore potential avenues for international support.

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