Alexander Lukashenko pockets massive win in Belarus election scorned by the West

As long as Belarus is under Lukashenko and Putin’s control, there will be a constant threat to the peace and security of the entire region,

she said

You can congratulate the Republic of Belarus, we have elected a president,

Igor Karpenko, the head of the country's Central Election Commission, told a news conference in the early hours of Monday

Some chose prison, some chose 'exile', as you say. We didn't kick anyone out of the country,

he told a rambling news conference that lasted more than four hours

I don’t give a damn about the West,

he said

There is no alternative to Alexander Lukashenko as the leader of our country,

one of the theoretical candidates, Communist Party leader Sergei Syrankov, told the BBC ahead of the vote

Lukashenko has clung to power for 30 years. Tomorrow, he’ll reappoint himself in yet another sham election, ... This is a blatant affront to democracy. Lukashenko doesn’t have any legitimacy.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on the eve of the vote on X

There will be only two alternatives for Belarus: Either somebody very pro-Russia like Lukashenko’s followers or it will be democratic forces,

she said

Gitanas Nausėdalithuanian President

Let's make it perfectly clear: what is happening in Belarus today cannot be called elections. Once again, Alyaksandr Lukashenka is using external attributes of democracy to stay in power. But he is not – and will not be after today's event – a legitimate president of Belarus."

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda wrote on X on Sunday

Today, we marched for freedom in Warsaw—united and unshaken, honoring our heroes who gave their lives for freedom. Together, we are unstoppable. As Belarusians, we will never lose hope. We will reclaim our country and return home stronger than ever. Long live Belarus!"

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who calls herself president-elect of Belarus, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday

I will vote for Lukashenko because things have improved since he became president [in 1994],

said Alexei, a 42-year-old farmer in the tiny village of Gubichi in south-eastern Belarus who earns about €300 (£250) a month selling milk

Alexander Lukashenkopresident

All our opponents and enemies should understand: do not hope, we will never repeat what we had in 2020,

Lukashenko told a stadium in Minsk during a carefully choreographed ceremony on Friday

We shouldn’t count on this, but it’s also possible. Or it could be another unexpected event – a so-called 'black swan' – that could appear suddenly,

she added

Kaja KallaseU foreign affairs chief

This is yet another proof of a total absence of credibility of these elections,

Kallas and Kos asserted

Alexander Lukashenkopresident

What is happening in Belarus today is a farce,

she told reporters in Warsaw, branding Lukashenko "a criminal who has seized power

We don't put pressure on anyone and we won't silence anyone."

Casting

This is not democracy; it’s a farce built on fear, repression and lies,

Tsikhanouskaya reminded her compatriots and the rest of the world on Friday evening

Kaja KallaseU foreign affairs chief

Lukashenko doesn’t have any legitimacy,

Kallas stated

Kaja KallaseU foreign affairs chief

This is a blatant affront to democracy,

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas posted on social media, describing the vote as a sham

Alexander Lukashenkopresident

We very nearly destroyed ourselves, let's be open about this,

Lukashenko said

For these reasons, as well as the involvement of the Belarusian regime in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its hybrid attacks against its neighbours, the EU will continue imposing restrictive and targeted measures” against the Belarusian government

the EU officials said