Belarus pres. downplays West's rejection of his inauguration, says never asked for their recognition
Belarusian incumbent president, Alexander Lukashenko, has downplayed the rejection of his inauguration as the winner of last month’s presidential election by the European Union (EU) and the United States who cited alleged rigged polls.
Belarus is in turmoil since Lukashenko won the August 9 presidential election, with the opposition rejecting the official results and alleging voter fraud.
The US and the EU, in particular, have repeated the allegation, rejecting Lukashenko’s re-election.
Anti-government protest rallies have been held in the country ever since and reports say hundreds have been arrested.
The EU has compiled a list of around 40 individuals it wants to target with sanctions, claiming that they have had roles in alleged vote-rigging and a purported crackdown on anti-government protests. The US has prepared its own sanctions against Minsk.
On Wednesday, Lukashenko took the oath of office as the president of Belarus in an official ceremony in the capital city, Minsk, despite the threats of sanctions.
Senior lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic, top executives of state organizations as well as scientists, artists, athletes, and other public figures attended the swearing-in ceremony.
On Thursday, Lukashenko said that he did not care about the Western countries’ refusal to recognize his reelection.
“They're shouting that they don't recognize us”, but “we never asked anyone to recognize or not recognize our elections, or to recognize the legitimacy of the re-elected president or not,” the 66-year-old president said at a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador Cui Qiming.
Separately on Thursday, the EU claimed that Lukashenko's inauguration for a sixth term on Wednesday lacked “any democratic legitimacy” and that the bloc was reviewing its relations with Minsk.
Minsk has strongly rejected allegations of vote rigging, with Lukashenko saying that Western governments are seeking to destabilize the ex-Soviet state.
Lukashenko has served as president of Belarus since the establishment of the office 26 years ago, on July 20, 1994.
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