**Belarus Election Condemned by Ukraine‘s Foreign Ministry**
Ukraine’s government has spoken out against the recent presidential election in Belarus. The country’s Foreign Ministry called the vote a “farce” and said it was not free or fair.
The election took place on January 26, with incumbent dictator Alexander Lukashenko winning a seventh consecutive term as president. However, many countries, including Ukraine, have denounced the vote as being neither transparent nor democratic.
**Repression and Lack of Choice**
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that elections under the repressive conditions of the Lukashenko regime cannot be legitimate. The ministry also pointed out that voters in Belarus had no real choice due to political repression, which turned the election into a one-man show.
Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is closely allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He competed against two regime-approved candidates, who received only small percentages of the vote.
**International Condemnation**
The EU‘s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, called the vote “a sham” and “an affront to democracy.” The Belarusian opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, described the election as a “special operation” by the Russia-backed regime.
**Support for Opposition**
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the Belarusian opposition figures and encouraged them to continue fighting for an independent Belarus. The ministry also stated that a democratic and sovereign Belarus would be beneficial for regional stability and not an accomplice in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com