The Belarusian presidential elections were held on 19 December 2010 and were condemned by international observers. Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko secured his fourth term, defeating nine opposition candidates.
President Lukashenko had been in office since 1994, consolidating his power and abolishing presidential term limits in a 2004 referendum. The United States and the European Union criticized him for a poor human rights record and authoritarian rule, especially noting the violent suppression of mass protests after his prior re-election in 2006. Relations between Belarus and Russia had deteriorated following the 2007 winter gas dispute, the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, and subsequent conflicts over the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This provided Alexander Lukashenko with an opportunity to normalize relations with the West. The further rapprochement depended on the election being recognized as free and fair by Western observers, which led Lukashenko to partially liberalize the electoral process.
Of the ten candidates, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner by the Central Election Commission with over 80% of the vote. After an opposition protest against electoral fraud was violently suppressed by riot police the night after the elections, hundreds of protesters and seven presidential candidates were arrested by the Belarusian KGB, including runner-up Andrei Sannikov.
Western countries decried the election as a farce and an egregious affront to democracy and human rights. The United States and the European Union called for the release of all imprisoned candidates. By contrast, countries such as Syria, China, Vietnam, and Russia congratulated the re-elected incumbent.
Background Lukashenko was elected as the first President of Belarus in 1994. In 1996, he held a referendum to adopt changes to the Constitution that consolidated his power. In 2004, he conducted another to abolish term limits. His rule has been described as authoritarian, and no elections since 1994 have been deemed free and fair by Western observers. The 2006 elections led to mass protests, labeled the "Jeans Revolution", as well as condemnation of Lukashenko's government and the introduction of sanctions by the USA and the EU.
Russia and Belarus formed the Union State in 1999, but initial enthusiasm for deeper integration stalled as early as 2003. Soon after the 2006 elections, Russia initiated an effort to obtain a share of Beltransgaz, the Belarusian gas monopoly. This led to Lukashenko considering an energy alliance with neighboring, pro-Western Ukraine. The conflict culminated in the 2006-2007 winter gas dispute, which led to a three-day cutoff of oil flow via the Druzhba pipeline. This experience led Lukashenko to declare his Russia-oriented foreign policy a mistake. Russia threatened to cut gas flow again in June 2007, and Lukashenko responded by saying he wouldn't kneel to the Kremlin.
During the Russo-Georgian War of 2008 Belarus didn't recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Russian ambassador in Belarus criticized Minsk for insufficient support of Russia. Shortly after Lukashenko released the last political prisoners, in October travel sanctions by the EU against most Belarusian officials were suspended and Belarus started negotiations on loan from the IMF to deal with the 2008 financial crisis. Shortly after Lukashenko eased censorship and allowed printing of the two oppositions newspapers, Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya.
In May 2009, Belarus took part in the EU's Eastern Partnership summit. In June, Russia engaged in a short-term trade dispute with Belarus, banning the import of dairy products. In April 2010, the ousted President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev found refuge in Belarus, for which Russian president Dmitry Medvedev sharply criticized his Belarusian counterpart. In June 2010, the two countries had another energy dispute, which led to a temporarily lower amount of oil shipped via Belarus and a delay in the signing of the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
In domestic politics, Lukashenko limited coverage of Russian TV. Following recommendations from the OSCE, he liberalized election laws, making meetings and funding easier and allowing candidates to debate each other on TV. Western countries, on their part, limited funding of pro-democracy NGOs and promised further financial assistance in case the 2010 elections were free and fair according to Western monitors. Electoral system Presidential elections in Belarus were conducted via two-round system. Candidates were required to get 50% of all ballots cast to win in the first round, otherwise the second round should be held. For an election to be valid, over 50% of registered voters must participate.
To be eligible for President one must be Belarusian-born citizen at least 35 years old and resided in the country at least 10 years prior to the election.
The election date was set by the lower house of parliament. It had to be scheduled no later than five months and conducted no later than two months before the end of the President's current term.
The 2010 election followed this timeline: + 14 September 2010 The House of Representatives officially announced the election date 27 September 2010 Registration of initiative groups by the CEC 18 November 2010 Registration of candidates by the CEC 19 December 2010 Election Day 24 December 2010 The CEC declared Alexander Lukashenko as the elected President 21 January 2011 Inauguration Day
Candidates Death of Aleh Byabenin In the first week of September 2010, candidate Andrei Sannikov's campaign press secretary Aleh Byabenin was found hanged. Biabienin had been a key member of Sannikov's campaign, and was also director and co-founder of Charter97 – an opposition group and website and one of the few outlets for information on opposition candidates during the election. The official investigation ruled the death as suicide, but Sannikov expressed suspicion; saying that Biabienin had been in good mental health, there was no suicide note, and there were unexplained injuries on the body.
Lukashenko President Lukashenko (who had been serving his third term), when addressing the press in February 2007, stated that his health permitting, he would run in 2011.MosNews. Rightist Group Promote Belarus Dictator Lukashenko as Russian Presidential Candidate . Published February 28, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007. According to the result of a referendum in 2004, Lukashenko was declared the first President of Belarus and therefore had no term limits. On 4 May 2010, in an interview with Reuters, he stated: "I have not yet decided whether I will run [...] There are no factors now that would force me to refuse to participate"."President Lukashenko sees no reasons to refuse to participate in presidential election" , May 5, 2010, BELTA
Official registration information
Name Occupation, party Number of people in initiative group Number of signatures accepted Ryhor Kastusiou Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian People's Front 1,306Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Костусѐва Григория Андреевича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 100,870 Alexander Lukashenko president 8,403 1,110,149 Ales Michalevic lawyer, leader of the Modernization Union 1,795Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Михалевича Алексея Анатольевича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 111,399 Uladzimir Nyaklyayew poet, leader of the "Tell the Truth!" movement (Руху "Гавары праўду!") 3,271Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Некляева Владимира Прокофьевича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 180,073 Jaroslav Romanchuk economist, deputy chairman of the United Civil Party of Belarus 1,461Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Романчука Ярослава Чеславовича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 123,206 Vital Rymasheuski co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party 1,698Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Рымашевского Виталия Анатольевича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 102,817 Andrei Sannikov leader of the "For a European Belarus" movement"Sannikau Throws His Hat in the Ring", Eurasia Daily Monitor, The Jamestown Foundation — March 23, 2010 — Volume 7, Issue 56 (Руху "За Еўрапейскую Беларусь"), former Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus 2,001Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Санникова Андрея Олеговича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 142,023 Mikola Statkevich chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party 1,545Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Статкевича Николая Викторовича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 111,159 Viktar Ciareschanka economist 1,301Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Терещенко Виктора Ивановича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 109,012 Dzmitry Wus lawyer and businessman 1,355Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Усса Дмитрия Ивановича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 104,102 Uładzimier Pravalski businessman 186Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Провальского Владимира Александровича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь 118 Piatro Barysaŭ pensioner 110Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Борисова Петра Семеновича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь Supported Rymašeŭski Sergei Gaidukevich Liberal Democratic Party 10,443 Withdrew his candidacy Jury Hłušakoŭ Belarusian Green Party 243Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Глушакова Юрия Эдуардовича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь Withdrew his candidacy Siarhiej Ivanoŭ unemployed 129Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Иванова Сергея Георгиевича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь Withdrew his candidacy Ivan Kulikoŭ scientist 107Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Куликова Ивана Семеновича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь Withdrew his candidacy Siarhiej Ryžoŭ manager 123Список членов инициативной группы граждан по выдвижению Рыжова Сергея Владимировича кандидатом в Президенты Республики Беларусь Withdrew his candidacy
Alaksandar Milinkievic, of the "For Freedom" movement (Руху "За Свабоду"), initially announced his bid, but canceled it in September.
The CEC issued a warning to Uladzimir Nyaklyayew's "Say the Truth!" movement for violating the Electoral Legislation when his organisation gathered signatures of ineligible constituents for "subscription lists."
There were rumors that only three candidates besides Lukashenko managed to gather the 100,000 required signatures.
Campaign
Conduct Campaigning officially began on 19 November. Candidates held one-to-one meetings across the country and could use Belarusian state media for their TV and radio broadcasts Telegraf By. Presidential Candidates to Begin Campaigning. Published 19 November 2010. They could also participate in a live media debate, which occurred for the first time since 1994.Charter 97, Andrei Sannikov to speak on TV at 7:00 pm November 24 However, contrary to the Electoral Code, these debates were not aired during primetime. The media environment remained biased in favor of Lukashenko; he received 90% of coverage both on state TV and in state newspapers.
Changes in the law allowed candidates to establish their individual campaign funds and use their own money or supporters' contributions to fill them. Lukashenko received €30,500 this way, Nyaklyayew €25,000, and Sannikov €4,200. Additionally, all candidates were given €19,500 for print campaign materials.
During the election, there was no need to obtain permission for mass events; only notifying authorities was required. Lukashenko conducted 57 mass events, Nyaklyayew 40, and Sannikov 23, while other candidates held no more than a dozen.