Belarusian regime “warns” former political prisoners about “interference” ahead of elections

According to Euroradio.fm, former detainees convicted on “political” charges were asked to provide written undertakings to refrain from any actions aimed at “violently changing the constitutional order, seizing or retaining power by unconstitutional methods.”

The challenges are directed against individuals who have previously served or continue to serve sentences under politically motivated restrictions.

It remains unclear exactly what actions authorities intend to crack down on, but the warnings indicate ongoing efforts to curb any perceived opposition.

The election strategy marks a continuation of the crackdown in Belarus following the widely criticized 2020 presidential election, which Western countries declared fraudulent.

Following these elections, under President Alexander Lukashenko, opposition figures and pro-democracy activists were either jailed or sent into exile, unable to openly participate in the political process in Belarus.

The Belarusian democratic opposition, operating largely from abroad, has denounced the upcoming elections as “non-elections,” calling them a sham designed to perpetuate Lukashenko’s power.

New presidential elections will take place on January 26, 2025.