Alexander Lukashenko’s inauguration as president of Belarus lacks legitimacy and contradicts the will of large parts of Belarus, says the EU.
Lukashenko, whose critics refer to him as Europe’s last dictator, was declared the winner of the country’s August 9 presidential elections. But Brussels and the opposition movement consider the election rigged in his favour.
State news agency Belta reported that Lukashenko’s inauguration, which was not announced in advance, took place in the capital of Minsk on Wednesday, with several hundred top government officials present.