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Inside Belarus’s Unconventional Election: A Dialogue with Alexander Lukashenko
Throughout my experience with various elections, I have observed numerous world leaders participate in the voting process, often addressing the press afterward. Yet, the scene at Polling Station 478 in Minsk was exceptionally unique.
Belarus’s long-standing president, Alexander Lukashenko, often referred to as “Europe’s last dictator,” arrived at the polling station to vote. Surprisingly, while the voting continued, Lukashenko hosted a lengthy four-and-a-half-hour press conference broadcast live on state television.
This press event presented a rare opportunity for journalists to confront him about the election, which many critics have labeled a “sham.” When I posed a question about the nature of this election, given that his main opponents were either imprisoned or in exile, Lukashenko responded with characteristic defiance.
“What wretched question have you prepared for me?” he queried, before acknowledging my presence, “Good morning, Steve.”
“Good morning,” I replied, pushing forward with my inquiry. “How can you call this a democratic election, when your main rivals are either in prison or in exile?”
To this, Lukashenko replied, “Some are in prison, and some are in exile. But you are here!” He insisted that every individual has the right to make choices, asserting that this is the essence of democracy. “We never forced anyone out of the country,” he claimed, ignoring the systematic crackdown on dissent that had marked the aftermath of the 2020 elections.
I reminded him of his recent statement about not silencing people, expanding on the reality of political repression in Belarus. “Many of your rivals have not just been excluded from the ballot; they are in jail. There are now over 1,200 political prisoners in Belarus. Isn’t it time to release them? Figures like Maria Kolesnikova and Sergei Tikhanovsky deserve freedom.”
“You keep going on about Maria to me. My God,” Lukashenko sighed, though he ultimately defended the government’s actions. He justified the imprisonment of dissenters by stating, “Prison is for those who have broken the law. Don’t you have prisons in Britain and America?” He reinforced the idea that consequences follow actions, claiming, “The law is strict, but it is the law. I didn’t invent it.”
Despite my attempts to clarify that these political prisoners were incarcerated for opposing him, Lukashenko remained unyielding. “Ignorance of the law does not absolve you of responsibility,” he reiterated.
As the election journey unfolded, it became clear that Lukashenko faced little genuine opposition. While his name wasn’t the only one on the ballot, the alternatives appeared more like placeholders than actual challengers. I noted the lack of robust competition, mentioning that some candidates openly supported him, thus raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process. “It’s a strange election, isn’t it, with opponents like this?” I asked.
Laughing, Lukashenko responded, “Steve, this is a whole new experience for you!”
Feeling the weight of that truth, I nodded in agreement, remarking, “I haven’t seen an election like this before.”
Lukashenko went on to explain his alignment with various parties in Belarus, stating, “The Communists’ policy of justice is the same as what we’re promoting. Why would they vote against me?”
This presidential election drew sharp criticism from international bodies, with the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labeling it a “blatant affront to democracy.” Yet, Lukashenko displayed little concern. “I swear to you,” he expressed, “I couldn’t care less whether you recognize our election or not. The most important thing for me is that the people of Belarus recognize it.”
Source
www.bbc.com