{"id":122167,"date":"2025-01-17T13:23:50","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T10:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/122167\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","slug":"lukasenka-criticizes-western-democracy-preparing-for-rigged-victory","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/122167\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka criticizes Western democracy, preparing for rigged victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and his officials have criticized and ridiculed Western democracy during public appearances in the run-up to the January 21\u201326 presidential election. These negative attacks primarily aim to distract from the lack of democracy in Belarus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\n Presidential candidate Donald Trump after an assassination attempt near Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (CBS News)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to state media journalists at the Minsk City Technology Park on January 16, the Belarusian leader described US elections as a “show.” \u201cDo we need a show? No. If we put on this show across the country and shoot at each other, in the ear or in the head, it would indeed be \u2018fun,\u2019\u201d he said, referring to the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Donald Trump near Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volfavi\u010d: “We do not want the type of democracy they have in the West”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 3, at a meeting with his campaign staff in Minsk, \u0141uka\u0161enka criticized the approach to elections in the United States. \u201cIf they don\u2019t shoot or hit someone in the ear or the head, God forbid, etc., this is considered bad… Yes, this is a show for them, whereas in our country this is not a show. Elections here are a serious event.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalla Ka\u010danava, speaker of the Council of the Republic, echoed the Belarusian leader\u2019s sentiments a few days later: \u201cShows and turmoil don\u2019t lead to anything good. This is a disaster, a tragedy. If you attract attention to the election process in this way, it is a road to nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Volfavi\u010d, state secretary of the Security Council, joined the chorus. In an interview published by the country\u2019s largest state-controlled newspaper SB. Belarus Segodnya<\/em> on January 16, the general stated, \u201cWe do not want the type of democracy they have in the West. It does not guarantee the safety of the people. We always take events in our country seriously. Presidential elections are especially significant. We will not allow it to turn into a comedy show, like in the USA or in European countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The officials employ propaganda techniques such as the straw man fallacy and the false dilemma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A straw man fallacy involves refuting an argument that is different from the one actually being discussed. \u0141uka\u0161enka claims that the West demands a show\u2014assassination attempts on presidential candidates\u2014when in fact, the West demands free and fair elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The false dilemma is the suggestion that Belarusians must choose between elections without competition (stage-managed rituals) and \u201cfun,\u201d such as assassination attempts at rallies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These propagandists have fabricated the dilemma\u2014most democratic elections proceed without incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Debate beneath \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s dignity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka denied accusations that the race lacks competition, pointing out that \u201cfive candidates with different positions and points of view\u201d are running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, the government\u2019s attempt to imitate pluralism is difficult to sell. Candidates Siarhiej Syranko\u016d, Aleh Hajdukievi\u010d and Alaksandar Chi\u017eniak have all declared their support for the incumbent. Syranko\u016d, in fact, stated that \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s victory is inevitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former MP Hanna Kanapackaja rewrote her 2020 platform to remove any criticism of the incumbent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While \u0141uka\u0161enka has described elections as a serious event, he admitted on January 16 that he does not follow his campaign. \u201cI have no time for it… I know debates are happening, but I haven\u2019t seen any. I don\u2019t have time for debates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this were a genuinely competitive election, he would participate in the debates and prepare carefully, as US politicians do, to demonstrate superiority over his rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, he truly does not follow the election. The candidates have delivered two television and radio addresses, and a televised debate is scheduled for January 20. The Belarusian ruler does not plan to take part in it. He sees himself above such under-the-carpet battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparations for landslide victory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, state media have laid the groundwork for \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s landslide victory by publishing a poll from Belarusian State Economic University, showing the incumbent leading with 82.5 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government has banned independent opinion polls in the country, and state-controlled organizations are unlikely to release any results that could disappoint the authoritarian ruler, fearing repercussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a society gripped by fear, few people would dare to express their views honestly in a poll conducted by door-to-door interviewers. Imagine a government agent visiting your home to ask about your political views\u2014your first thought would likely be that a special police task force will arrive to arrest you afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, opposition supporters have no candidates to represent them on the ballot. The poll indicates that only 2.9 percent of respondents are willing to vote for someone other than \u0141uka\u0161enka. This figure is likely close to the truth, given the absence of opposition candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any case, based on the poll, it seems reasonable to assume that the Central Election Commission will award alternative candidates around 3 percent of the vote, while \u0141uka\u0161enka will be credited with 83 to 86 percent. Anything less would not suffice for him after the humiliating protests against election fraud in 2020. More than 86 percent could anger Russian President Vladimir Putin, who claimed victory with 87.28 percent in last year\u2019s poll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way or another, the two autocrats hold the power to dictate the election results in a way that Trump could never have done for himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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