Putin's Ally, Lukashenko, Wins Seventh Term

What's at Stake for the Future of Belarus and the Region?

Alexander Lukashenko has officially secured his seventh consecutive term as President of Belarus. The election was held on January 26, with the Central Election Commission reporting that he won 86.8% of the vote. Voter turnout was reported at 85.7%, with approximately 6.9 million citizens eligible to vote.

Despite these figures, the election has been condemned by both opposition groups and Western governments as a "sham." Both the EU and the US have issued statements rejecting the results and calling them illegitimate. However, Russia has labeled the election as a convincing victory. With Lukashenko now elected and Belarus currently under an agreement with Russia for nuclear protection, what does this mean for the future of the region?