Alexander Lukashenko allegedly wins the presidential «elections» with 87.6% of the votes, according to exit poll data from the Belarusian Youth Organizations Committee. 5.1% of respondents voted against all. More than 2% of the votes were received by only one of Lukashenko's opponents — Sergey Syrankov, who got 2.7%. At the same time, Syrankov himself acknowledged Lukashenko's victory in the first half of the day.
According to official data, the turnout in the Belarusian presidential elections was 87.50%.
Elections in Belarus are held without observers from European countries. Moreover, the authorities did not open polling stations abroad, citing «lack of security measures» and the reduction of the Belarusian diplomatic staff in some countries.
In Warsaw, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the city with slogans «Long live Belarus», «Vote or not vote — you still get...» Svetlana Tikhanovskaya attended the rally, holding a portrait of her husband Sergey Tikhanovsky — a former candidate in the previous Belarusian presidential elections, who is imprisoned.
«We already said our firm «no» to Lukashenko four years ago. And today, in response to his clownery, we can only repeat it», — Tikhanovskaya declared from the stage, noting that Belarusians «will not allow their country to become Putin's prize», and also thanked everyone gathered. «We will overcome everything. We will definitely return home. Long live Belarus!» — she assured those gathered at the rally.
In Berlin, citizens of the Republic of Belarus gathered at the Belarusian embassy. In 2020, people stood in line for hours at this place to vote. As reported by Sotavision*, the gathered brought ballots with them, on which they wrote the names of candidates they would like to vote for, as well as wishes for a better future. However, they did not throw the ballots into a ballot box, but into a coffin. After voting, activists held a memorial service for the stolen votes and took the coffin to Treptower Park, which is opposite the embassy.
The head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos called the elections fake and stated that they «will continue to impose restrictive measures against the regime». They also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners.
In 2020, exit polls also showed Lukashenko's victory with a result of 79.7%. Ultimately, the republic's CEC reported that Lukashenko received 80.1%. However, the opposition proved that the elections were completely falsified.
This week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution stating that «the EU, its member states, and the international community should not recognize the legitimacy of the current dictator Alexander Lukashenko as president after the vote».
* Recognized in Russia as an «foreign agent» and «undesirable» organization.
Photo: BelTA, Sotavision