Lukashenko's "victory" gains selective recognition globally
The Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vulin, joined a small group of leaders congratulating Lukashenko on his "victory" in the recent presidential elections. "Lukashenko is increasingly being viewed as part of the 'Russian world' globally," claims Belarusian opposition figure Pavel Latushka.
Aleksandar Vulin, tasked with fostering cooperation with BRICS countries, is subject to US sanctions due to corruption and links with Russia. Previously honoured by Russia's FSB, he has visited Russia and Belarus several times since the onset of the Ukraine invasion.
In his message to Lukashenko, he highlighted that "there is no greater honour than serving your nation."
Who congratulated Lukashenko? list of 12 countries
Vulin was not the first politician to congratulate Lukashenko. According to the dictator's press services, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was the first to call. Following this, leaders from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan congratulated Lukashenko on his "victory" in the elections.
Congratulations were also sent from Beijing. President Xi Jinping emphasised that Belarusian-Chinese relations are "strategic" and presently at the "highest level."
By midday on Monday, Vladimir Putin phoned his Belarusian counterpart and congratulated him on a 'convincing victory.' Lukashenko also received congratulations from the leaders of Venezuela, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan.
"Sham elections"
The West does not acknowledge the election results. The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, announced the imposition of further sanctions against Lukashenko's regime. She stated that "the sham elections in Belarus were neither free nor fair."
The exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, claimed that the manipulated elections in Belarus once again demonstrate that Lukashenko's regime is fearful of the people's will.
"Axis of evil"
- Lukashenko is part of the emerging 'axis of evil': Pyongyang, Tehran, Moscow, Beijing, and others. However, even among them, he'll never play the leading role. Increasingly, he is viewed worldwide as part of the 'Russian world,'" stated Pavel Latushka to "Rzeczpospolita," a former diplomat and Belarusian Minister of Culture, who has been in Warsaw for several years and is one of the leaders of the Belarusian democratic opposition.
According to Belarusian media, citing exit poll results, Lukashenko secured 88% of the votes on Sunday.
