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I’ve reported on many elections.
I’ve seen prime ministers and presidents roll up at polling stations, solid ballots and then take just a few questions from reporters.
However I’ve by no means seen something fairly just like the scene at Polling Station 478 in Minsk.
Lengthy-time chief of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, as soon as dubbed “Europe’s final dictator”, arrived to solid his poll. Then, whereas Belarusians had been nonetheless voting, candidate Lukashenko gave a four-and-a-half hour press convention reside on state TV.
It was a possibility to quiz him on the controversial vote which his critics have denounced as “a sham”.
“What wretched query have you ever ready for me?” he requested. “Such as you at all times do.”
“Good morning,” I replied.
“Good morning, Steve.”
“How are you going to name this a democratic election, when your primary rivals are both in jail or in exile?” I requested.
“Some are in jail, and some are in exile. However you might be right here!” stated Lukashenko.
“Everybody has the suitable to choose. That’s democracy. Some selected jail, others selected exile. We by no means compelled anybody in another country.”
In actuality, it was the authorities’ brutal crackdown on protesters after the 2020 presidential election that led to Alexander Lukashenko’s staunchest opponents both being jailed or pushed into political exile. Private alternative didn’t come into it.
“You stated not too long ago ‘We mustn’t shut individuals’s mouths’ [silence people],” I reminded him.
“However your rivals have not simply been stored off the poll. A few of them have been jailed. There are presently greater than 1,200 political prisoners in Belarus. Is not it time to open the jail cells and launch them? People like Maria Kolesnikova, Sergei Tikhanovsky…”
“You retain occurring about Maria to me. My God,” Lukashenko sighed.
“OK, I will reply your query…Jail is for individuals who have opened their mouths too vast and who’ve damaged the regulation. Do not you may have prisons in Britain and America?”
“In any nation, for those who break the regulation, you should bear the results,” he continued. “The regulation is strict however it’s the regulation. I did not invent it. It’s essential abide by it.”
“It’s essential abide by the regulation,” I interjected. “However these persons are in jail for criticising you.”
“Ignorance of the regulation doesn’t absolve you of duty earlier than it.”
