Belarus don announce say dem go hold presidential election on January 26, 2025. Dis decision dey come after meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, on October 23.
Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, wey don dey in power since 1994, go seek his seventh term in office. Lukashenko win his sixth term in 2020, but the election trigger mass unrest because many people, including the opposition and Western governments, claim say the vote be rigged.
Lukashenko already tell reporters in February say he go run for president again. He say, “I will run (for president). Tell this to them (the Belarusian opposition in exile),” after he vote in parliamentary and local elections.
The upcoming election be the first presidential vote since Russia launch full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which Lukashenko support. The election also come with concerns about potential unrest and crackdown on opposition, as seen in the 2020 elections.
Russian Ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, say Russia ready to help Belarus counter any attempt to destabilize the election, if necessary. Russia and Belarus already dey share intelligence on potential threats leading up to the vote.
