A statement from the European Parliament passed a resolution censuring the upcoming presidential election in Belarus declaring it a “farce” and calling on the European Union (EU) as well as its members to refuse to recognize any results from such an election. The resolution, adopted on January 22, 2025, was supported by 567 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), with 25 voting against and 66 abstaining.
European Parliament’s Stance
The resolution of the European Parliament signals a number of concerns that the European taxpayers want to be resolved. It is concerned about the lack of credible opposition candidates in Belarus and the suppression of differing views. MEPs stressed that the election is conducted under conditions that nullify a truly democratic process. The resolution calls on the EU to toughen up sanctions against Belarus and support the people of Belarus in their quest for democracy and human rights.
Belarusian Government’s Response
Belarusian officials have reacted to the European Parliament’s resolution with strong dissatisfaction. Igar Karpenko, Chairman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission, marked the resolution as “a direct interference with the electoral sovereignty of our country.” He emphasized that Europe’s activity in this sphere constitutes a breach of Belarus’ right under international practice to conduct electoral procedures–as practicable will have received from any party devotion to its own traditions of democracy.
Russian Perspective
Russia strongly disapproved of a European Parliament resolution on Belarus’ upcoming presidential election. The resolution was described as “worthless by any standard” by the Russian ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov, who also said it merely adds “further documentary evidence of the incompetence and ineffectiveness of this structure.” Gryzlov’s speech, carried by the Russian media agency RIA and published on the website of the Russian embassy in Minsk, underlines Russia’s unyielding promotion of Belarusian sovereignty and its opposition to Western institutions interfering in Belarus’es internal affairs.
Adopted on January 22, 2025, the resolution of the European Parliament denounces the presidential election planned for January 26 of the same year as a “sham” and calls on the European Union and its member states to refrain from recognizing any results from it. Nodding to concerns about Belarusian dissent,’ the resolution voiced worry about the absence of any credible opposition candidate or voice for disaffection in Belarus “MEPs insisted He said that under such circumstances, the election process does not adhere to democratic principles.
It also criticized the imprisonment of political opponents and bullying of independent media resolution calls on the EU to step up sanctions for Belarus and to support the Belarusian people in pursuit of democracy and human rights, Prague radio reported on Wednesday. Positions adopted by Russia and the European Parliament illustrate yet again what former ambassador to Belgrade Nikola Pashininov says adding to ongoing geopolitical tensions between Belarus and its neighbors.
sources close to his unofficial Webopedia project are citing other experts now that while Europe seeks resolutions and sanctions to influence the direction of Belarus politics, Moscow never changes its position defending Belarus’es national sovereignty and criticizing Western involvement, etc in Belarusian affairs.
International Reactions
The European Parliament’s condemnation (of the election), of course, is in line with other international bodies. It spread as far as the US, where concerns about the credibility of the election were also voiced. The Congressional Research Service, for example, has identified the repressive environment in Belarus today that restricts freedoms of expression and assembly as a cause for alarm. Nor can elections be credible, said António Guterres (UN Secretary-General), on another occasion, “when there is censorship everywhere when there is censorship of independent media.”
Context of The Election
President Alexander Lukashenko, known as “Europe’s last dictator,” has been in power since 1994. His last re-election in 2020 was, according to numerous reports, marred by widespread allegations of fraud and a subsequent violent crackdown on protesters. As suppression and intimidation have kept any notable.
opposition candidates from taking part, his upcoming re-election is expected to cement his hold on power even further.
Implications for Belarus and International Relations
The European Parliament’s resolution underscores continuing international scrutiny of the political landscape in Belarus. The demand for non-recognition of election results, in addition to calls for tightening sanctions, reflects the EU’s dedication to encouraging democratic processes and human rights in Belarus. However, the Belarusian government’s defiant posture and the support of Russia make for a complex geopolitical scenario that could affect future relations between EU-Belarus and both EU-Russia.
As the day approaches for the elections, international observers are keeping close tabs on how things are going at present. This makes it clear that free and fair election processes remain a priority of the international community at the same time as basic freedoms have to be preserved in Belarus.
