Belarus’ authoritarian ruler will face only token challengers in presidential vote

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus’ predetermination committee connected Monday allowed 7 politicians loyal to President Alexander Lukashenko to commencement collecting signatures to tally against him successful January’s election, successful an evident bid to create a semblance of title to nan longtime authoritarian ruler.

Lukashenko, who has ruled nan state for much than 30 years, is seeking a seventh word pursuing a relentless crackdown connected nan guidance and free media.

The election, scheduled for Jan. 26, would travel 4 1/2 years aft nan 2020 statesmanlike ballot that was rejected by nan guidance and nan West arsenic rigged pinch fraud and triggered monolithic nationwide protests. Belarusian authorities responded to nan demonstrations pinch a sweeping crackdown connected dissent, resulting successful astir 65,000 group arrested.

Major guidance figures were either imprisoned aliases fled nan state successful nan crackdown. Human authorities activists opportunity Belarus now holds astir 1,300 governmental prisoners and that galore of them are denied capable aesculapian attraction and interaction pinch their families.

Lukashenko has relied connected subsidies and governmental support from his main ally, Russia, to past nan protests. He allowed Moscow to usage Belarusian territory to nonstop troops into Ukraine successful February 2022.

Last week, Belarus’ Central Election Commission registered an inaugural group for Lukashenko to hole for nan race. On Monday, it besides permitted 7 politicians to statesman collecting signatures to beryllium capable to run, including Sergei Syrankov of nan Communist Party, Oleg Gaidukevich, nan leader of nan Liberal Democratic Party, and erstwhile Interior Ministry spokeswoman Olga Chеmоdanova.

“Those are replacement candidates, and I judge they conscionable want to safeguard nan incumbent,” Lukashenko said of his aspiring token challengers.

Each of nan candidates is required to cod astatine slightest 100,000 signatures until Dec. 6 to participate nan race.

Last week, nan committee refused to registry inaugural groups for 2 guidance politicians who aspired to participate nan race.

“There are candidates, but nary title successful this election,” said Valery Karbalevich, an independent governmental analyst. “Lukashenko fears a replay of nan 2020 protests, his trauma is still caller and truthful he will transportation retired nan ballot successful a format erstwhile nan consequence is predetermined.”

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is successful exile aft challenging Lukashenko successful nan 2020 statesmanlike election, denounced January’s ballot arsenic a farce and urged Belarusians to ballot against each candidates.

“We are offering group to sound their protestation by voting against each those who are robbing america of our correct to vote,” said Tsikhanouskaya, whose hubby Siarhei Tsikhanouski is serving a 19 1/2-year situation condemnation aft trying to tally against Lukashenko. “This is not an predetermination but an imitation of an electoral process held amid panic erstwhile replacement candidates and observers aren’t allowed.”

During February’s parliamentary and section elections, successful which only candidates loyal to Lukashenko were allowed to compete, Belarus for nan first clip besides refused to induce observers from nan Organization for Security and Cooperation successful Europe to show nan vote.