EU Condemns Belarus Election as 'Sham' Amid Lukashenko's Seventh Term

European leaders denounce Belarus's presidential election for lacking fairness and transparency, while Hungary blocks a unified EU response.

• Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenko secured a seventh term in a presidential election widely criticized by Western leaders as undemocratic and a 'sham.'
• The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, issued a statement condemning the election after Hungary blocked a joint EU response, citing human rights violations and lack of electoral legitimacy.
• Lukashenko's opponents were either jailed or in exile, and only state-approved candidates participated, with no meaningful competition.
• Protests against the election took place across Europe, with Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya calling for the release of political prisoners and democratic reforms.
• Lukashenko, while signaling openness to improved Western relations, continues to face harsh international sanctions for his regime's alignment with Russia and suppression of dissent.

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