Presidential election in Belarus: high attendance at polling stations for a tense election

Opponent to President Lukashenko, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, arriving at a polling station, August 9, 2020. Sergei GAPON / AFP

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After a tense presidential campaign marked by growing repression of the opposition, many Belarusians went to the polling stations this Sunday, August 9, to elect their future president. This year, the head of state Alexander Lukashenko is indeed opposed to Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, an unexpected opponent.

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From our special correspondent in Minsk , Daniel Vallot

In front of one of the polling stations located in the heart of Minsk, the Belarusian capital , it was the atmosphere of the great days this Sunday. To attract voters, sales of food products at discounted prices and a free concert were organized. At 4 p.m., turnout was 73.4% nationally.

However, the atmosphere was tense, noted our special correspondent Daniel Vallot .  Police checks, limited traffic, deployment of military trucks and water cannons… All day long the authorities mobilized to avoid opposition demonstrations. The attorney general, Alexandre Koniouk, had warned against any participation in unauthorized gatherings. Access to certain websites and social networks has also been restricted.

A mobilized opposition ...

This year, the ballot is particularly tense due to the presence of an unexpected opponent. The president's main opponent, Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa , mobilized his supporters in a few months, uniting with relatives of former arrested candidates, and galvanized Belarus . In the event of victory, she promised to release "  the political prisoners  ", and to organize a constitutional reform then new elections.

Within the population, the divide is colossal between the pro and anti-Lukashenko. “  Everything is magnificent here, look at our fields, our schools, our health system… And all this is thanks to Alexander Lukashenko ! Thanks to his charisma, his firmness, his sense of organization ! I think history will recognize his role and all that he has done for Belarus!  Exclaimed Tatiana, delighted to have been able to vote once again for the president in place for 26 years.

As a sign of the constant repression of the opposition , as they left the polling station, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's supporters were visibly afraid of getting into trouble, and preferred not to speak out. One exception: this shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous and who proudly wore the white bracelet on her wrist, a symbol of support for the opposition. “  I voted for Svetlana and against this dictatorship which has lasted for 26 years ! I've had enough, I don't want this person who's been in power for so long. Svetlana, during the campaign, mobilized a lot of people, she awakened the Belarusians and gave us hope.  "

... but repressed

A real but tenuous hope. Indeed, the opposition expects massive falsifications during the count, especially since independent observers are not allowed inside polling stations. Officially, due to the coronavirus. And according to the NGO Viasna, more than twenty people were arrested on Sunday, including three journalists from the independent Russian television channel Dojd.

Belarus has not held a free ballot since 1995, and protests have been forcibly put down on several occasions. The opposition therefore also expects new arrests the day after the election. While waiting for the results, the whole question is whether the Belarusian population will decide to challenge this result in the street, what will be the scale of the mobilization this evening and tomorrow, and what will be the response of the authorities. 

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  • Belarus
  • Alexander Lukashenko

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