Lukashenko's candidacy registered for Belarusian presidential election
The Central Election Commission of Belarus has registered Alexander Lukashenko's candidacy for the presidential elections, set for January 26, EFE reports, citing Belarus' news agency BELTA.
According to the CEC, Lukashenko’s candidacy has garnered support from over 2.5 million voters. Apart from Lukashenko, whose 2020 presidential election victory was not recognized by the opposition or the West, triggering the largest protests in recent Belarusian history and an unprecedented police crackdown, the CEC has registered four additional candidates.
Among them is businesswoman Anna Kanopatskaya, who opposes closer ties with Russia, especially the Union State that binds the two countries. She has also called for the country’s withdrawal from the post-Soviet military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Lukashenko, 69, has been in power in Belarus since 1994 and is one of President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies.
In early December, Lukashenko and Putin signed a mutual defense pact. Consequently, Russia could deploy the new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile on Belarusian soil in the second half of the coming year.
In January, Lukashenko also signed a law granting him immunity, lifelong protection, and state-provided assets upon his resignation from the presidency.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
