Election of the President of Belarus did not meet international standards

The US State Department welcomed the peaceful holding presidential elections in Belarus, in which Alexander Lukashenko won for the fifth time in a row, who collected more than 83% of votes.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry expressed disappointment, since, according to the American side, the vote did not meet international obligations.

“We are disappointed that the election fell significantly short of Belarus’ international obligations to ensure that it is free and fair, as evidenced by observer mission reports,” US State Department Deputy Press Secretary Mark Toner said in a statement. published by on the website of the US Embassy in Belarus.

The reports, the diplomat added, “note serious problems with the counting of votes and the formation of district and local election commissions, as well as the lack of fundamental reforms of the imperfect Belarusian election legislation.”

The State Department also welcomed the participation of opposition parties and independent media in the elections, but “the inability of international and national observers to be present during the vote count” indicates a lack of compliance with democratic processes and norms.

“Free and fair elections are not possible without freedom of the press, space for civil society and opposition parties to operate, and unhindered access for international and national observers,” Toner added.

According to preliminary data of the Central Election Commission of Belarus, for Lukashenko voted 83,49% of voters. The representative of the civil campaign “Tell the Truth!” took second place. Tatyana Korotkevich (4,42%), third is the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Sergei Gaidukevich (3,32%), and fourth is the leader of the Belarusian Patriotic Party Nikolai Ulakhovich (1,67%). About 6% of voters voted against everyone, the turnout was 87,2%. The final voting results will be announced on October 16.

For Lukashenko, this is the fifth election victory, he became the President of Belarus in 1994. In the last election, in 2010, he scored a little less than 80%.