Belarus: faced with a challenge that does not weaken, Lukashenko takes the oath on the sly
Lukashenko's investiture ceremony had not been announced beforehand.
Minsk, September 23, 2020. REUTERS
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
This Wednesday, Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for a sixth term, during a ceremony organized in the greatest secrecy.
The Belarusian head of state claimed his victory in the presidential election on August 9 with an improbable score of 80%, which a large part of the population denies.
For a month and a half, the protest movement has continued to demand new elections.
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The main arteries of Minsk closed to the public, the police force deployed in numbers around the presidential palace ... It was enough to put the chip in the ear of the protesters who had been wondering for some time about the form that the investiture ceremony could well take, which had to be announced within two months of the ballot.
A few hours later, the official information fell: Alexander Lukashenko was indeed sworn in this Wednesday, under the golds of his palace, in the presence of several hundred handpicked guests: senior officials, members of Parliament and officials of state organizations.
Excerpts from the ceremony were broadcast by the state channel Belarus 1. In his speech, Alexander Lukashenko welcomed the fact that his country is "
one of the few, if not the only one,
" "
where a color revolution could not take place
”.
During this time, state television channels were broadcasting series.
“
Where are the jubilant citizens?
Where is the diplomatic corps?
One of the Belarusian opposition representatives,
Pavel Latouchko
, asks Telegram
.
The former ambassador and minister, who had to go into exile in Poland, quipped: "
The outgoing president, who claims to have won with 80% of the vote, makes his inauguration an operation of special services, under protection of riot forces and in the secret.
"
European critics
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister, where several Belarusian opposition leaders are in exile, denounces a "
farce
".
"
Fraudulent elections, a fraudulent nomination
", this is what Linas Linkevicius writes on his Twitter account concluding: "
His illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences which ensue from it.
"
Berlin has already made it known that it does not recognize the Belarusian president, "for
lack of democratic legitimacy
".
►
To read
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Belarus: more than a month of mobilization against Lukashenko every weekend
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