On August 9, 2020, the Belarusian people went to the polls. They voted for change. They voted to end the dictatorship. They voted for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. But Alexander Lukashenko refused to let go of power – and responded with election fraud, violence, and terror.
Today marks five years since the Belarusian people were robbed of their future. Five years of brutal dictatorship, persecution, and a silenced opposition. Meanwhile, the true winner of the election remains in exile. It is a betrayal of the will of the Belarusian people – and a test of how far Europe’s democratic conscience is willing to go.
Tsikhanouskaya won – and the regime knew it
All independent analyses, leaked vote counts, testimonies from polling station workers, and internal documents point to the same conclusion: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya won the 2020 presidential election. In many polling stations, she received over 60–70% of the votes, sometimes more than 80%. Lukashenko often received only a handful of votes.
But instead of admitting defeat, the regime responded by shutting down the internet, beating election monitors, and forcing Tsikhanouskaya to leave the country under death threats. The dictatorship chose to cling to power at the cost of its own people’s freedom.
Five years of repression
Since the 2020 election, more than 65,000 people have been arrested for participating in protests, expressing critical opinions, or simply showing solidarity. Today, between 1,200 and 1,400 political prisoners are held in Belarusian prisons – among them activists, students, journalists, artists, and trade union representatives.
Independent media outlets have been shut down. At least 40 journalists are imprisoned, and over 600 have been forced to flee the country. Merely following certain news channels on Telegram can lead to prosecution for “extremism.”
Civil society has been erased. Since 2021, over 965 NGOs have been banned. Universities have been purged of “disloyal” academics, and ordinary citizens live in constant fear of surveillance, denunciation, and repression.
The regime clings to power – with Kremlin support
Having lost all popular legitimacy, Lukashenko’s survival is now completely dependent on Vladimir Putin. Belarus is being used as a logistical hub for Russia’s war against Ukraine. The regime in Minsk has handed over military control, media policy, and economic flows to Moscow.
At the same time, it continues to play a double game with the outside world – staging fake elections, promoting sham dialogues, and launching symbolic “reconciliation” efforts that mask ongoing brutality.
The international community must recognize the truth
Five years on, the international community must unequivocally state:
• Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya won the 2020 election.
• Alexander Lukashenko is an illegitimate leader and dictator.
• The regime’s crimes must result in increased isolation, sanctions, and support for the opposition.
We must never allow another stolen election to pass unnoticed. We must never accept that a European country is governed by fear and repression.
Our responsibility in 2025
Words of condemnation are no longer enough. We need action:
1. Intensify sanctions against those responsible in the regime’s security forces, judiciary, and propaganda apparatus.
2. Strengthen support for the government-in-exile and Belarusian civil society.
3. Demand international investigations into torture, disappearances, and electoral fraud.
4. Provide active protection and visa support to opposition members in exile.
5. Treat Belarus as an occupied state, not a legitimate partner.
Five years is enough
No dictatorship lasts forever. But it will not fall on its own. It falls when the world stands up for those who no longer can.
The Belarusian people voted for freedom. It is our duty not to forget – and to show that the promises of democracy still hold true.
BJÖRN SÖDER (Sweden Democrats)
