Lukashenko to run for president in 2025, Belarus blasts US over poll criticism

The president, in power since 1994, spoke on the day Belarus, Russia’s neighbour and ally, held parliamentary elections described as a sham by the opposition

The US State Department said the elections were ‘held in a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic’

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Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko addresses the media in Minsk on Sunday. Photo: Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP

Published: 7:40pm, 25 Feb 2024Updated: 6:40am, 26 Feb 2024

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has held power since 1994, said on Sunday he intended to seek re-election next year, which could extend his grip on the country to 36 years.

He was speaking on the day Belarus, a neighbour and ally of Russia, held parliamentary elections decried as a sham by the opposition.

“Tell them [the exiled opposition] that I’ll run. No one, no responsible president would abandon his people who followed him into battle,” Lukashenko said, according to Belarusian state news agency BelTA.

A woman casts her ballot during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Cherven, Belarus on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Lukashenko, 69, made his comments after voting in parliamentary and local council elections, also denounced by the United States as a “sham”.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: “The elections were held in a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic.”

The chairman of Belarus’ Central Election Commission, in comments quoted by BelTA, said it was not up to the United States to comment on the election.

“We don’t denounce their elections. We make no statements, even if they had over there a lot of questions for all to see, even in their last presidential election,” Igor Karpenko was quoted as saying.