One-Man Show: How Lukashenko Became President for the Seventh Time

Alexander Lukashenko has been "reelected" for a seventh presidential term, according to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission of the Republic. It is reported that 86.82% of Belarusians voted for him. Meanwhile, 3.6% of voters opted against all candidates. The final voter turnout was 85.7%.

Lukashenko himself cast his vote at polling station number 1 in the Central District of Minsk, accompanied by his lively little dog – a snow-white spitz named Umka. Notably, as seen in viral videos, Umka "marked" the polling station. Immediately after voting, "Luka" made a series of loud statements regarding the 2025 elections and their perception in the West, as well as the situation in the country and the world, the relationship between Minsk and the USA and the EU, and of course, the Russian-Ukrainian war.

It is worth noting that the traditional communication of "batka" with Belarusian and foreign journalists, which has been happening for decades after his voting in presidential elections, was the longest ever this time, lasting nearly 5 hours. A significant portion of Lukashenko's responses addressed the negative assessment of Belarusian elections, which they received from the West even before the voting took place. In this regard, the "eternal" ruler of Belarus made it clear that external pressure would not affect Minsk as long as he governs the country: "Nothing will happen to us, whether you recognize the elections in the European Union or not. Believe me, I absolutely don't care whether you recognize our elections or not. What's important to me is that Belarusians recognize these elections and that they ended as peacefully as they began. If I were to declare now that I do not recognize the elections in the USA and do not recognize Trump, would anything change in America? Or in the UK: I do not recognize Starmer, and what? What will happen in the UK? Nothing." Speaking about Putin's "special operation," or rather, the paths to peaceful settlement after Donald Trump's return to power, Lukashenko emphasized: "He (Trump – ed.) told Europe directly: 'If you want to fight in Ukraine, then pay not two percent, but five (NATO contributions from national GDPs – ed.). And in Europe, you are twisting and turning like snakes, not knowing how to find a way out of this situation. Well done, Trump, I support him in this. As for Russia and peacekeeping forces along the line of demarcation after the end of hostilities, that's up to the President of Russia. I don't think he will be thrilled. Ultimately, this will be determined in negotiations. If for the sake of trust and justice – then besides the Belarusian army, they have nothing else. This does not mean that I will send my army as peacekeepers, no. But for it to be as agreed, only the Belarusians can do that; there are no others. All the rest will pull either to the West or to the East. But to make it clear, I am not rushing there, and most likely, I do not intend to send my people there, peacekeepers. I do not intend to. Only Belarusians can ensure normal relationships between the middle and elder brother." Lukashenko assesses the chances for a peaceful settlement as "50-50."

Significantly, while discussing external challenges, Lukashenko warned of the threat of intervention from Poland, but also reported that one Russian missile system "Oreshnik" would be deployed in Belarus, closer to Smolensk, any day now, and that would be enough to protect the country.

Regarding the situation directly in Belarus and his opponents, Lukashenko made a statement that could be interpreted as both an invitation to return to the country and a warning of the inevitable imprisonment of anyone attempting to repeat the scenario of mass protests after the previous presidential elections in 2020. "Some chose prison, some chose exile, but we did not expel anyone from the country. Moreover, we opened the country, and I have already stated five times that everyone will be given a chance," he declared. At the same time, he advised those Belarusians who left after 2020: "Come back – be accountable. If you severely broke the law – to places not so distant. In any state, one must bear responsibility for breaking the law. The law is harsh, but it is the law. I did not invent it."

"You are all, one and all, my children. The president is responsible for each one. If someone stumbled, someone got confused, or was misled by fakes and disinformation, everyone will have a chance to return to life. We are not up for internal games and squabbles right now. Everyone must work together and harmoniously as a single organism if Belarusians want to continue on the path they chose many years ago. We will preserve the main thing – the dictatorship of order, justice, goodness, and respect for a person, first and foremost a working person," Lukashenko emphasized, reminding how "recklessly in 2020 some Belarusians believed in the alluring prosperous life abroad and nearly destroyed themselves." "But this was an important vaccination for society," concluded "Doctor" Lukashenko.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus, Alexey Bashan, reported that the situation at the polling stations was calm and that "external provocations involving Ukrainian and Western special services, which our security forces warned about the day before, were avoided." Concurrently with the "voting" at the polling stations, performances by singers and musical groups took place, cafes operated, and local products were sold. A nostalgic nod to the bygone "Soviet" era.

It should be noted that besides Lukashenko, four other candidates were registered for the highest state position – individual entrepreneur Anna Kanopatskaya, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus Oleg Gaydukevich, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Sergey Syryankov, and head of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice Alexander Khizhnyak. None of them were considered a real opponent to "Luka."

"This is not a woman's position; I am categorically against loading a woman with this work. A woman cannot be a dictator, and we already have enough men to lead our governance," Lukashenko reflected against the backdrop of Ms. Kanopatskaya's participation in the election race, apparently unable to "become a dictator." "It is obvious that the president will win the elections. Many among the voters of all four parliamentary parties will also vote for the president," remarked another registered presidential candidate Oleg Gaydukevich, referring to his formal competitor as a "uniting figure."

According to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission of Belarus, Gaydukevich received 2.02% of the votes, Anna Kanopatskaya got 1.86%. Meanwhile, Sergey Syryankov garnered 3.21%, while Alexander Khizhnyak received 1.74%.

"Lukashenko has arranged for himself the presidential elections for the seventh time. But if in 2020 one could at least conditionally talk about some choice, as alternative candidates were allowed to participate in the voting and Belarusian citizens had the illusion that power could be changed through democratic means, now we can speak of a true spectacle in a totalitarian society. Lukashenko has agreed to turn Belarus into a Russian political province and a staging ground for an attack on neighboring Ukraine. In this situation, it no longer matters who votes how and who counts as well. Lukashenko holds all the levers of pressure and has become even more ruthless and deceitful in his statements, having lost any real opportunities for even conditional maneuvers between Russia and the West," notes well-known international journalist Vitaly Portnikov on his personal YouTube channel.

"Especially cynical in this entire firework of statements from the Belarusian dictator were his words that only Belarusian soldiers can guarantee peace between Russia and Ukraine. Yes, perhaps such a statement would please Putin, who would laugh, understanding that the Belarusian army, which has turned into a branch of the Russian one, cannot be a real mediator in the event of a theoretical cessation of hostilities between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Russian aggressors. It is clear that there can be no talk of any Belarusian mediating contingent in the situation where Lukashenko has turned the country into a Russian staging ground. It is also clear that Lukashenko himself does not think he can play such a role because he immediately stipulates that he will not send the Belarusian army to the line of contact between Russian and Ukrainian forces. But this has been Lukashenko's long-standing tactic: no one persuades him of anything, and he puffs up his cheeks. That is, he is not seen at all in Moscow, where he is perceived as the head of a puppet regime, nor in the West, where he is regarded simply as a comical and terrifying continuation of Putin, nor in Ukraine, where it has already been understood that Lukashenko is not even the master in his own country. Not to mention that he is not the master of the word given to him. But Lukashenko continues to assure his compatriots and himself that he is still needed and important," concludes Portnikov.

By the way, during the lengthy press conference following the "voting," Lukashenko stated that he is not looking for a successor to hand over power. At the same time, he noted that "the future leadership of the republic has already been formed from the existing personnel