Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The 2025 presidential election in Belarus cannot be free or fair in the country’s current repressive environment. The Lukashenka regime’s systematic efforts to silence any dissent have determined the outcome of the election long before any ballots are cast, depriving the Belarusian people of the opportunity to choose their own leaders and determine their own future. The United States joins many of our European allies in assessing that elections cannot be credible in an environment where censorship is ubiquitous and independent media outlets no longer exist, where only regime-approved candidates can even appear on the ballot, and where members of the opposition are either imprisoned or in exile. The regime’s failure to issue a timely invitation to the OSCE to observe the upcoming election underscores its disregard for a transparent electoral process, as well as for its obligations as an OSCE participating state. The United States condemns the Lukashenka regime’s campaign of repression and its attempts to legitimize an election that cannot be free or fair.

Repression is born of weakness, not strength. The unprecedented measures to stifle any opposition make it clear that the Lukashenka regime fears its own people. The bravery of Belarusians inside and outside the country is having an effect. The United States recognizes the extraordinary perseverance of Belarusian individuals and civil society organizations working to hold the regime accountable. We continue to remember – and advocate for – the nearly 1,300 political prisoners who remain behind bars in Belarus. The United States stands with the Belarusian people as they demand transparency, democracy, and freedom.