Date for next presidential elections in Belarus announced

The Central Election Commission of Belarus has scheduled the next presidential elections for 26 January 2025.

Source: BelTA, a Belarusian state-owned news outlet 

Details: The decision was made at a meeting of the House of Representatives. 

The Head of the Belarusian Central Election Commission, Igor Karpenko, stated that the commission is "ready to begin the election campaign". 

Democratic forces in Belarus have repeatedly expressed their intention to seek non-recognition of these elections by the international community. 

The previous elections in Belarus on 9 August 2020 were marked by the largest protests in the country's history. Some of those detained are still being held in Belarusian prisons. 

Many countries around the world did not recognise the results of the elections, in which self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko allegedly enjoyed the support from 80% of voters, as the Central Election Commission claimed. 

In particular, the elections were not recognised by the EU. Ukraine also did not consider the "inauguration" of self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko legitimate.

Background:

• Alexander Lukashenko, 70, has ruled the country for 30 years. No presidential elections (2001, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2020), apart from the first one (1994), have been recognised as free and fair at the international level. 
• In the lead-up to the previous elections in Belarus, there was a wave of rallies and protests in support of opposition candidates. 
• Lukashenko stated that there would be no "coddling" of the protesters "like in a kindergarten".

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