Belarus holds elections for first time since 2020 poll

For the first time since the fraught presidential election in 2020 and the ensuing mass protests, authoritarian-led Belarus is holding nationwide elections.

In addition to 110 members of the national parliament, around 12,000 representatives of local assemblies are to be elected.

The elections on Sunday are considered manipulated, as officials surrounding long-term ruler Alexander Lukashenko did not invite independent election observers.

According to observers, the 69-year-old Lukashenko primarily wants to use the vote to show that he is in full control after the protests three-and-a-half years ago.

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya, who fled abroad, emphasised on Thursday the elections had nothing to do with democracy.

"It's a farce, it's a show, it's a circus, but it's not a choice," Tichanovskaya said. She also referred to the many political prisoners in Belarus. Human rights activists put the number at more than 1400.

In August 2020, Lukashenko, who has been in office since 1994, was again declared the winner of the presidential election. The opposition, however, saw Tikhanovskaya as the real winner.

The EU also no longer recognises Lukashenko as head of state. In the weeks after the election there were mass protests, which were brutally suppressed by the power apparatus. More than 35,000 people were arrested at that time.

Lukashenko is considered to be completely dependent on Russia and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.