On January 26, 2025, the so-called “presidential elections” were held in Belarus, the result of which had been known in advance from the beginning of the election campaign.

It is difficult to call such elections fair, transparent, and democratic, particularly given the political repression in Belarus, which deprived voters of any alternative choice and turned the elections into a one-person political show.

Elections conducted under conditions of complete administrative control and political persecution, the absence of genuine political competition, oppression of freedom of speech, and the lack of independent media cannot be considered legitimate. It is a farce.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine fully shares and joins the assessment of the EU External Action Service regarding the results of this “performance” and expresses its support for those Belarusians who continue to fight for democratic changes in their country, its independence, and the preservation of their national dignity and identity.

The Belarusian people deserve a better future than to remain hostages to one individual for another five years – a person who not only deprives Belarusians of the prospects for decent development within the family of European nations to which they historically belong but also creates security threats for neighboring countries and the European region as a whole. 

We are convinced that a democratic and sovereign Belarus, where the people – not one individual – determine the country's future, will be a factor of long-term stability in our region, rather than a co-participant in Russia's war against Ukraine..