Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for a seventh consecutive term following a widely criticized election, securing nearly 87% of the vote. During his inauguration, Lukashenko mocked those who call him “Europe’s last dictator,” claiming that Belarus has more democracy than Western nations.
The opposition has strongly condemned the inauguration, labeling the January 26 election as a sham, with no real opposition allowed to challenge his grip on power. Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya vowed to continue fighting for Belarus’ freedom, advocating for a break from Russian influence and a return to European integration.
Since the 2020 election protests, Lukashenko has cracked down on dissent, arresting over 65,000 protesters and shutting down independent media. Human rights groups report that Belarus currently holds over 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski.
