August 9, Pozirk. The European Union and other democratic countries have expressed their solidarity with Belarusians on the sixth anniversary of the 2020 presidential election that sparked countrywide protests against election fraud.
“Today marks the sixth year since the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus. Then, the democratic expression of hundreds of thousands of Belarusians was met with unprecedented force and violence,” the European External Action Service (EEAS) said on X.
In 2020, the Belarusian people were denied a free and fair presidential election, noted Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. “Despite ongoing repression, their courage endures. We stand with the people of Belarus and reaffirm our unwavering support for a free, democratic and independent Belarus.”
Open dialogue, full respect for citizens’ rights and the release and rehabilitation of all jailed dissidents are the norm in a democratic state, the Polish foreign ministry stressed, noting its solidarity with the Belarusian civil society. “We advocate for good-neighborly relations with a sovereign and democratic Belarus and the free Belarusian Nation,” the statement reads.
“Freedom cannot be silenced. The future of Belarus belongs to its people. Every day, Belarusians demonstrate extraordinary courage in defending their right to determine their own future,” Tallinn said.
Vilnius stressed the need to “stand firm,” as long as the regime in Minsk keeps supporting Russian aggression in Ukraine and carrying out hybrid attacks. “Civil and democratic forces of Belarus need our further support,” it added, urging the international community to keep up pressure on Alaksandar Łukašenka and his officials.
Minsk continues its repressive policies, including transnational repression targeting Belarusians in exile, even six years after the contested election, the Latvian foreign ministry noted. “The number of political prisoners continues to grow, while ever more people are arbitrarily designated as extremists,” it said in a post on Facebook. “Latvia stands with the people of Belarus in their pursuit of a free, democratic and sovereign Belarus.”
August 9, 2020, marked Belarus’ presidential election, in which Alaksandr Łukašenka was declared the winner with about 80 percent of the vote. Former presidential hopeful Cichanoŭskaja disputed the Belarusian central election commission’s official result, accusing Łukašenka of vote rigging.
The election was followed by months of peaceful protests, but the government cracked down on demonstrators, who demanded a new, free and transparent poll and freedom for opposition leaders. Thousands were jailed, beaten and tortured and several demonstrators were killed by security forces.
