Belarus’ president inaugurated
Unannounced event proves leader lacks mandate, critics say.
KYIV, Ukraine — President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus began his sixth term of office Wednesday during an inauguration ceremony that officials did not announce in advance, after weeks of mass protests against his reelection. Opposition activists maintain the vote was rigged.
State news agency Belta reported that Lukashenko’s swearing-in ceremony in the capital, Minsk, was attended by several hundred top government officials, lawmakers, media representatives and other prominent figures.
Lukashenko, 66, took an oath in Belarusian with his right hand on the constitution. The head of the country’s Central Election Commission handed him the official ID card of the president of Belarus.
“The day of assuming the post of the president is the day of our victory, convincing and fateful,” Lukashenko said. “We were not just electing the president of the country — we were defending our values, our peaceful life, sovereignty and independence.”
Opponents in Belarus, including the second-place finisher in the election, and representatives of European governments said the absence of public involvement in the inauguration only proved that Lukashenko lacked a valid mandate.
“Even after this ceremony today, Mr. Lukashenko cannot claim democratic legitimization, which would be the condition to recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus,” said Steffen Seibert, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman. He called the secrecy “very telling.”
Lukashenko has run Belarus, a former Soviet republic of 9.5 million people, with an iron fist for 26 years. Official results of the Aug. 9 election had him winning 80% of the vote. His strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10%.
Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in neighboring Lithuania after being forced to leave Belarus, has not accepted the outcome of the election as valid. Neither have the thousands of Belarusians who continue to demand Lukashenko’s resignation during more than six weeks of mass protests.