Espreso. Global

Presidential “elections” start in Belarus

26 January, 2025 Sunday
10:31

On Sunday, January 26, Belarus is holding presidential "elections," with self-proclaimed incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko among the five candidates running

client/title.list_title

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.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Thursday
6 February
18:51
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, January 29 – February 5
Russia redeploys majority of forces to northern Lyman sector – Ukraine’s 63rd brigade
18:30
Ukraine open to discuss transfer of captured North Korean soldiers with South Korea
18:15
Keith Kellogg denies presenting Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan at Munich conference
17:50
Exclusive
Putin engages in backchannel talks, aiming for a "peace" on his terms
17:27
Russia plans to complete "renovation" of Mariupol drama theater by end of 2025
17:06
Exclusive
At least 20,000 Ukrainian civilians are being held in Russian captivity
16:42
Ukraine receives F-16 fighter jets from Netherlands
16:19
OPINION
Moscow will drag out negotiations as long as possible
16:00
Trump envoy Kellogg rejects idea of restoring Ukraine’s nuclear status
15:44
Russian drone strikes densely populated residential area in Ukraine’s Kharkiv
15:25
Ukrainian drones target 66% of Russian military equipment in January — Ukraine's top general
15:07
UK to convene Ramstein meeting on February 12
15:00
Updated
Ukrainian forces strike Russian airfield in Krasnodar region used for launching Shahed drones
14:49
Exclusive
Ukraine's future depends on attracting qualified foreign workers — Ukraine’s Confederation of Employers
14:32
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia to cut ties with Russia’s power grid this weekend
14:13
Russian forces turn to horses, donkeys for frontline supply runs
13:56
First French Mirage 2000 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine
13:37
Exclusive
Bridgehead near Dvorichna, Kharkiv region, keeps expanding — military expert
13:15
Exclusive
Russian army makes no gains in Kupyansk sector for three weeks — Ukrainian officer
12:54
North Korea using Ukraine as testing ground to improve missile accuracy
12:33
OPINION
Zelenskyy open to talks with Putin, but prospects remain dim. Vitaly Portnikov's column
12:11
Review
'Likely Palianytsia missile': strike on Russian oil refinery, cutting-edge tech Ukrainian innovators offer military. Serhiy Zgurets’ column
11:48
Exclusive
UK moves to take lead in cooperation with Ukraine — diplomat
11:29
Exclusive
Putin has no interest in negotiations, Trump must realize it fast — diplomat
11:10
Exclusive
Russia’s top strategy: provoking elections in Ukraine with temporary ceasefire — political scientist
10:51
Trump envoy Keith Kellogg to visit Ukraine on February 20 — media
10:34
90 clashes at front on Feb. 5: Ukrainian forces halt 24 Russian attacks in Pokrovsk sector
10:12
Russia loses nearly 40,000 troops in six months of Kursk operation — Ukraine's General Staff
09:35
Russia loses 1,240 soldiers, 46 artillery systems, 16 armored vehicles in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Wednesday
5 February
21:30
Ukraine’s Defense Forces destroyed 13,000 Russian artillery systems in 2024
21:15
Zelenskyy believes Kursk operation will be key in negotiations
21:00
Exclusive
Ukraine gets weapons to exert strategic pressure on Russia
20:41
Exclusive
What Trump really meant about Ukrainian rare earth metals
20:20
Exclusive
Russian troops dig multi-story trenches hard to clear, says Ukrainian serviceman
19:54
Russia establishes new foothold on right bank of Oskil River, Kharkiv region
19:30
Explosion near Kamianets-Podilskyi recruitment center kills one, injures four
19:10
Exclusive
Killing of recruitment officer is consequence of Russia's special operations in Ukraine
18:45
Ukraine proposes storing American gas in its facilities
18:20
OPINION
Flaw in "everything was fine if not that damned Putin" narrative
17:55
Russian conscripts sent to Ukraine frontline despite Kremlin’s promises
More news