Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is all but certain to extend his more than three decades in power in Sunday’s election that is rejected by the opposition as a farce after years of sweeping repressions.

Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko is set to continue his long-standing rule following an election criticized as a sham. Despite opposition, imprisonment, and exile of dissidents, Lukashenko's portrayal as a necessary leader persists amid Belarus's increased dependence on Russia and a backdrop of political repression.

Russian, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko casts himself as a plain-spoken strongman and "president of the ordinary people".

January 2025 in Belarus is not one of them. Drive around Minsk and you'll see no big billboards promoting the portraits of candidates. There is little campaigning. The grey skies and sleet of a Belarusian winter add to an overriding sense of inactivity.

MINSK -- The presidential election kicked off in Belarus on Sunday with polling stations opening at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) and closing at 8 pm (1700 GMT). Five candidates, including incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, have been registered for the presidential election.

The EU's top diplomat said Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who is certain to win a seventh presidential term in Sunday's election after barring most opponents, "doesn't have any legitimacy".

By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) -Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 15 prisoners on Friday in what state media called a humanitarian gesture, two days before an election in which he is set to extend his 31-year rule.

Tatsiana Kulakevich, University of South Florida (THE CONVERSATION) Europe’s longest-serving authoritarian leader, Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko, is set to run for a seventh term on Jan. 26 ...

Europe’s longest-serving authoritarian leader, Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko, is set to run for a seventh term on Jan. 26, 2025. And even before the first vote is counted, it can be stated ...

The CEC specified that around 6.9 million Belarusians are eligible to vote at 5,325 polling stations. Of these, 207 are located in hospitals, rest homes, and other public facilities, while 12 are set up in military units. Voting will conclude at 8 p.m. local time (5 p.m. GMT).

Polls opened in Belarus on Sunday for a presidential election, with longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko expected to cruise to victory for a seventh term in the absence of any viable opposition candidates.