January 18, Pozirk. The upcoming presidential election in Belarus cannot be free or fair given the country’s repressive environment, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement yesterday.
According to him, the systematic work of Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime to suppress any dissent determined the result long before voters cast their ballots, depriving Belarusians of the opportunity to choose their leaders and determine their future.
“The United States joins many of our European allies in assessing that elections cannot be credible in an environment where censorship is ubiquitous and independent media outlets no longer exist, where only regime-approved candidates can even appear on the ballot, and where members of the opposition are either imprisoned or in exile,” Blinken said.
He continued by saying that the regime’s failure to issue a timely invitation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the election demonstrates its disregard for a transparent electoral process and the country’s commitments as an OSCE participating state.
“The United States condemns the Łukašenka regime’s campaign of repression and its attempts to legitimize an election that cannot be free or fair,” Blinken stated. “Repression is born of weakness, not strength. The unprecedented measures to stifle any opposition make it clear that the Łukašenka regime fears its own people. The bravery of Belarusians inside and outside the country is having an effect.”
He added that the US recognizes the exceptional perseverance of Belarusians and their civil society organizations seeking to hold the regime accountable.
“We continue to remember – and advocate for – the nearly 1,300 political prisoners who remain behind bars in Belarus. The United States stands with the Belarusian people as they demand transparency, democracy, and freedom,” he concluded.
Lawmakers scheduled the seventh presidential election for next week. The Belarusian pro-democracy forces have dismissed it as a sham.
