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Belarusian President Alexandre Lukashenko, who has been in office for 26 years, will hold an inauguration ceremony on the 23rd (local time). EPA = Yonhap News
Belarusian President Alexandre Lukasenko, who allegedly raised an election, held a surprise inauguration. With his sixth consecutive term, Lukasenko has been in the presidency for 26 years since 1994.
According to the British Guardian newspaper, on the 23rd (local time), President Lukashenko held an inauguration ceremony in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, without prior notice. On that day he celebrated in his inauguration speech: “The inauguration ceremony is the day of commemoration of the sure and significant victory for all of us.”
President Lukasenko continued: “We are not electing just one president. We have upheld Belarusian values, a peaceful life, sovereignty and independence. In this sense, we have much more work to do ”.
President Lukasenko faced opposition candidate Svetlana Tihanovskaya in the presidential elections held on 9 last month. An easy victory was expected due to the full support of the opposition, but as a result of the count, President Lukasenko received more than 80% of the votes and suspicion of “ electoral manipulation ” was raised. In fact, the European Union (EU) said on 19 last month that there was a problem with the Belarusian presidential election process and that it did not admit the results of the vote.
Svetlana Tihanovskaya, former presidential candidate of the Belarusian opposition. AFP = Yonhap News
The Belarusian opposition publicly condemned the inauguration of President Lukasenko. Tihanovskaya, who had fled to Lithuania, issued a video statement saying: “This ‘self-proclaimed inauguration’ is a sham”, saying: “I am the only leader elected by the citizens of Belarus and our mission is to unite Belarus. It is doing ”, he emphasized.
Former Culture Minister Pavel Ratuško, executive of the Mediation Committee, an organization created by the opposition party for the transfer of power, said: “Where are the happy citizens (at the opening ceremony)? Where are the diplomats again? To be honest, this opening looked like the gangs were coming together to join the new godfather. ”
Belarusian neighbors also joined. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linces Linchevicius said on Twitter that day: “It is like a comic farce. Choice of manipulation. Opening ceremony of the operation. The former president of Belarus does not become ‘the former president,’ “he criticized. Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korchuk also noted that “he has no legitimacy to lead Belarus.”
A demonstration is taking place in Minsk, Belarus, on the 23rd against the inauguration of President Lukasenko. Associated Press = Yonhap News
The scene of the meeting in Minsk, Belarus. Reuters = Yonhap News
As the inauguration ceremony became known, a large-scale demonstration demanding the resignation of President Lukasenko was held in various parts of Belarus, including Minsk, starting on the 23rd. The Belarusian authorities have deployed water cannons and launched a squad to confront the protesters. The BBC reported that citizens who were injured in clashes between protesters and police continue to appear.
This day, the Belarusian Minsk assembly site. A participant in the demonstration holds up a sign that reads: ‘Forever, Belarus’ and ‘Time to go.’ EPA = Yonhap News
On this day, a demonstration is taking place in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. EPA = Yonhap News
Reporter Lee Byung-jun [email protected]
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