Presidential “elections” start in Belarus

BelTA reported the information.

Across the country, 5,325 polling stations will be open from 08:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Citizens unable to visit a polling station due to health issues or other valid reasons can vote from home by submitting a written or oral request to the polling station commission.

In December, the Central Election Commission of Belarus registered five candidates for the presidential election scheduled for January 26, 2025: Alexander Lukashenko, Oleg Gaidukevich, Sergei Syrankov, Hanna Kanapatskaya, and Alexander Khizhnyak. 

Self-proclaimed President Lukashenko is seeking his seventh term.

Sham elections in Belarus: background

On January 26, 2025, Belarus will hold presidential "elections," with Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, seeking a seventh term.

Ahead of the election, Lukashenko has threatened to completely shut down the Internet if events similar to the 2020 mass protests occur. During the 2020 presidential election, Internet access was heavily restricted for several days to suppress dissent. Many Belarusians consider these elections illegitimate and continue to reject Lukashenko’s “victory” in the previous race.

In the lead-up to the so-called presidential elections, the authorities have intensified Internet control. Users report VPN services being blocked, making it harder to bypass censorship, along with severe restrictions on foreign traffic.