Belarus. Together – in the name of the interests of the people

Yulia Mikhailova, member of the Central Committee of the CPRF, January 29, 2025 ─ 

(Machin Translation) Many watched the elections in Belarus. This was a fateful event not only for citizens of Belarus, but also for the population of the CIS countries – for the vast majority of people living in the post-Soviet space, the Republic of Belarus today is perceived as an island of socialism, miraculously preserved in the vast majority of a single great country.

The course of the elections in Belarus, together with colleagues – international observers from the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (MPA) of the CIS, was observed by the Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPF, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the SCP-CPSU, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Kazbek Taisaev.

The election campaign took place in a difficult situation. Inspired by the “slavien” of promoting its scenario during election campaigns in other countries, the same Moldova and Romania, when the opinion of the citizens of the country living in them was ignored, the West did not abandon its will and the Belarusian people.

The Belarusian opposition, who is abroad, was ready to come to his aid. Taking into account the lack of effective levers of influence on the situation inside Belarus, the planned scenarios for destabilizing the situation in the country allowed the seizure of a number of border areas of the country and the introduction of Western “peacekeepers”, conducting massive information campaigns to discredit the country’s authorities, carry out provocations to fix the alleged protest position of citizens, false statements about the oppression of Poles living in the country and use the military allegedly to protect them, etc.

Shortly before the vote, the US State Department demonstratively urged American citizens to leave the republic. On January 22, deputies of the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which they called on the EU countries not to recognize the results of the Belarusian presidential elections, as well as to continue expanding the sanctions against the Republic of Belarus.

However, contrary to the plans of the ill-wisers, the situation within the country remained calm. Order anti-government protests took place only abroad.

The election campaign was held without “extra-storedness” in strict accordance with the legislation in force in the Republic. The decision to hold elections a little earlier (the previous one took place in August 2020 and five years have not yet expired), first of all, it was dictated by the completion of the implementation of the five-year plan for the socio-economic development of the republic and the need to formulate tasks for the next, priorities in which the president is intended.

The candidate for a high post of president could be claimed by a citizen of Belarus over 40 years old, permanently residing in its territory for at least 20 years and does not have (bos both now and before) of citizenship or residence permit of a foreign state, as well as a criminal record. In order to be registered, he had to collect at least 100 thousand. signatures of voters.

The leader of the presidential race from the very beginning was Alexander Lukashenko, the permanent leader of Belarus since 1994.

His election program was called “The Time Chose Us.” His main task for a new presidential term, he set the preservation of its country for the next generations, ensuring continuity in the development of the republic, preserving its strength, stability and independence.

In addition to Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian CEC registered four more candidates for president, three of whom are supporters of the course of the incumbent president.

Chairman of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice Alexander Khizhnyak in his program emphasized youth, education and science. After his election as president of Belarus, he was going to launch the program “A Worthy Start”, within the framework of which young specialists will wait for a high salary at the first workplace, as well as a preferential rental of housing and a mortgage with a minimum rate.

The leader of the “Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus” Oleg Gaidukevich proposed to reform the electoral system so that representatives of the “fifth column” and incompetent politicians, could not claim power, simplify tax legislation and create more attractive conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses

The unparty businessman Anna Konapetskaya tried to bring the audience a promise to return Belarusians who went abroad for political or economic reasons to the country.

The candidate for the post of President of the country from the Communist Party of Belarus, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the CPB, Sergei Syrankov, went to the polls under the slogan: “Not instead, but together!”.

On November 6, the XV (XLVII) Congress of the CPB for the first time in 30 years decided to put forward a representative of the party for active participation in the main electoral campaign of the country. Nominating its candidate, the Communist Party of Belarus retained in its program a clause on the support of Alexander Lukashenko, who sympathized and sympathized with the ideas of socialism.

The CPRF also adheres to the same view. It is no coincidence that the Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPF, Chairman of the Central Council of the UCP-CPSU Gennady Zyuganov notes: “We do not just support Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko. We believe that his policy has brought Belarus to the first position. Within the CIS, it is the safest country. In the vastness of the post-Soviet space, it doubled its potential. He’s going to the polls now. We don’t just support this program. But now we have outlined new frontiers for this strategic partnership. It is fundamentally important for us to overcome Nazism and fascism. To develop concrete steps to build a world and a decent life for citizens in our expanses. Belarus managed to preserve all the best that was accumulated in the Soviet era. On our friendship, on our joint work depends the victory over the evil forces.

“We have always been on the President’s team,” Sergei Syrankov notes. “Our decision demonstrates only one of the program guidelines of the party – the support of the current leader of Belarus, his political course, the fully consonable program of the CPB to build a state in Belarus for the people, a society of social justice. We are talking about a society where power belongs to the people, history does not correspond, and its representatives feel responsible for the constructive processes that are taking place in the republic. Therefore, we entered the election campaign not instead, but together with the President.

It is possible to ensure the continuity of the course of the country’s development only on the basis of a socio-political avant-garde, organized not from above, by order, but below, through the independent initiative of citizens, political parties and public associations. The oldest political party in the country is confidently looking to the future, today, starting preparations for the election campaigns of 2030 and 2035, popularizing the ideas of Belarusian socialism and insisting on their constitutional consolidation as a state ideology of the Republic of Belarus.

Participation in the elections helped the Communists to increase the experience of political struggle and hardening. Recall that the experience of conducting electoral campaigns, the KPB enriched in the elections of deputies of all levels on February 25, 2024. According to their results, 7 members of the party (out of 33 candidates) became deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, 37% members of the KPB (out of 609 candidates) became deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, 35 representatives of the CPB were elected a member of the Council of the Republic, 35 representatives of the CPB became delegates of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly.

Also, participation in the presidential election campaign contributed to strengthening the position of the KPB in society. Organizing the collection of signatures in support of Sergei Syrankov (in total, more than 125 thousand of them were collected), the CPB declared itself as a party capable of nominating its candidate.

A big role was played not only by the action “from home to home” for those who want to vote for the leader of the Communist Party of Belarus Sergey Syrankov, but also materials of visual agitation, which could be seen in almost all settlements of the Republic.

It is difficult to overestimate the agitation pickets of the presidential candidate Sergei Syrankov, who were his party colleagues and associates who held his party associates in many cities of the republic. Minsk Gomele Brest Grodno… not to list everyone!

A long time there were also a meeting in the labor collectives.

Voters received printed materials with the program of the candidate, calendars with party symbols, the newspaper “Communist of Belarus” Contrusted persons of the candidate detail the points of the election program of Sergei Alexandrovich, answered numerous questions.

At the meetings, the residents of the Republic were interested in various aspects of the program of the presidential candidate and the party that nominated him: first of all, related to the social sphere, attitude to various forms of ownership, proposals for the development of the economy and production. They also expressed their opinion, shared proposals on the paths of progressive development of Belarus.

Among the participants of the election campaign of the Communists, you could see both people with solid life experience and young people, which helped to find a common language with voters, in an accessible form of telling about the program of a Communist candidate.

Actively joined the campaign of the candidate of the CPB and media figures: political scientist Pyotr Petrovsky and Director of the Center “Northern Eurasia”, one of the leaders of public opinion of the country Alexey Dzerment.

The past campaign consolidated in Belarusian society the understanding that the KPB is not a party of one leader, but a team of interchangeable players who are ready to act in any position. And it is necessary to take into account the threats and challenges of the present time.

In addition, through the election campaign of its leader, the CPB made specific proposals to the Program of socio-economic development of Belarus for 2025-2030, which will be adopted in 2025 during the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly. Most of them are devoted to protecting the interests of the person of labor, observing his social guarantees. First of all, it promoted the protection of the human rights of labor, an ordinary worker, who creates an overwhelming number of public goods of Belarus.

The main day of voting in the presidential elections of Belarus was held on January 26. And from January 21 to 25, an early vote was held. According to the CEC, the turnout for early voting in the presidential elections in Belarus was 41.81 percent. Voters’ turnout in the elections of the President of Belarus was 85.70% – a high figure!

All citizens of the republic who have reached the age of 18 could take part in the elections. You could vote on a passport, student, pension or military ID, driver’s license or other identity documents. Persons found to be declared incapacity, detained or in places of deprivation of liberty were not allowed to vote.

It was impossible to vote for the presidential candidate and abroad. This decision was due to the lack of security measures at sites that were previously formed on the territory of other states, as well as a reduction in the number of digepid corps employees. Citizens who arrived in the Republic of Belarus from abroad could be exercised in the constitutional right at polling stations in Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev.

486 foreign (international) observers were invited to monitor the voting process. The 308 represented the CIS Observer Mission. The largest – more than 60 people – was a group of international observers from the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States (IPA CIS), which participated in the monitoring of presidential elections at the invitation of the heads of the chambers of the Belarusian parliament.

The members of the group monitored more than 320 polling stations in the course of both early voting and on its main day.

On the eve of the main voting schedule of observers from the CIS IPA was especially intense.

As part of the monitoring of the elections of the President of Belarus, meetings were held in the House of Representatives with Igor Karpenko, the Chairman of the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus for Elections and Republican Referenda and the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeenko.

The head of the CEC spoke about the organization of the voting process, recalling that 5 325 polling stations have been created in the country, the same number of precinct commissions have been formed, which included 56 550 people. And also noted the high interest of citizens in the election campaign.

Igor Sergeenko spoke about the current political and economic situation in the country, stressing that the electoral campaign is completing the renewal of the political system of Belarus, which began with a constitutional referendum that took place in 2022. As a result of the referendum, about 100 laws were amended, including the electoral code. The Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus also noted the increased role of the parties. In the current composition of the Chamber, the share of deputies nominated by the parties has increased almost the second. And of the five candidates for the presidency, three were nominated by political parties.

The preparation and holding of the upcoming presidential elections, international observers from the IPA CIS also discussed with the Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalia Kochanova.

The speaker stressed the inadmissibility of interference in the internal affairs of an independent state, recalling that the Belarusians learned from the political events of 2020. “We could lose everything, we could have lost the country. People have drawn conclusions – especially since there is something to compare with,” the head of the Council of the Republic noted. Natalia Kochanova expressed firm confidence that observers from the IPA of the CIS will give an honest, objective and unbiased assessment of the electoral processes taking place in Belarus.

Then the international observers took part in the solemn ceremony of laying flowers at the Victory Monument in the center of Minsk, which was erected in memory of the soldiers of the Soviet army, partisans and underground fighters who died during the Great Patriotic War – one of the symbols of the capital of Belarus. Laying flowers at the memorials dedicated to the common Victory is a tradition that is observed by parliamentarians of the Commonwealth countries. Of particular importance this action is in the coming 2025, which was declared in the CIS the Year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the fight against Nazism.

On the same day, international observers from the UCP-CPSU headed by Kazbek Taisayev, as well as members of the CPRF delegation met with the presidential candidate from the Communist Party of Belarus, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the CPB Sergey Aleksandrovich Syrankov. The meeting was also attended by the leaders of the Georgian party “Solidarity for Peace”, invited to Belarus on an official visit as international observers at the elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus. I must say that the meetings of the members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation with the Communists of the Republic of Belarus and other states – of the former Soviet republics – are held regularly. To a large extent, this is facilitated by the constructive activities of the parties within the framework of the UCP-CPSU, the first deputy chairman of the Central Council of which is Kazbek Taisayev.

During the meeting, topical issues of the campaign for the election of the President of Belarus were discussed. Kazbek Taisaev conveyed to the audience the words of greetings from the Chairman of the Central Council of the SCP-CPSU, the leader of the Communist Party Gennady Andreevich Zyuganov and the leadership of the CPRF.

Kazbek Taisayev, who has extensive experience as an observer in referendums and elections in different states, including in Belarus, notes:

“We often go to each other and see who is going through the elections. Therefore, we have a lot to compare the electoral process in Belarus.

I was here during the presidential election in 2020, and later during the referendum and elections to meetings at all levels.

With all responsibility I can say that every year the level of their organization has become higher. I would like to say a great thank you to the CEC, and Igor Karpenko, who heads it. Together with his associates, he managed to form an excellent team of trained people who correctly organized all the work correctly at the sites. In this regard, many countries have a lot to learn.

Everyone could come to the polling station and cast their vote for the candidate he supports without experiencing any problems. People with disabilities were met by volunteers, warned in advance about their arrival. Of course, an accessible barrier-free environment is built in many countries, but the level of its work, similar to the one that my friends and colleagues in Belarus, I have not seen anywhere!

All – and volunteers, members of election commissions of different levels, including their chairmen, and observers from different candidates worked as a single team. No one had any comments!

The best assessment of what is happening is given by the festive mood, which we saw today at all sites without exception. In some schools, children organized concert programs for their parents – voters. Should I be surprised at such a high turnout at the sites?

At one of the sites where I managed to visit today, the employees of the Minsk Automobile Plant MAZ voted – the largest enterprise specializing in the production of heavy-duties, as well as bus, trolleybus and trailer equipment. In the course of communication with its employees – people of labor – it became clear that they fully support the course that Belarus is going on today. They fully support the friendship of our countries and do not intend to exchange it for any promises of the West!

The same position is held by other persistent convinced people, with whom I had a chance to meet today in the uicos at other excellent enterprises, schools and universities.

The CEC of the Republic took all the issues into account, took into account everything that could be taken into account, lifting to the highest level the work of volunteers, the registration of voting premises, the selection of members of the weekend. People from the heart came to the preparation of today!

Many thanks to the leadership of Belarus!

I want to thank all the people of our beloved Belarus for their attitude towards us, the Russians. With what warmth and gratitude the residents of the fraternal republic received greetings on behalf of the leadership of our country, on behalf of Gennady Andrenaj Zyuganov – the leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the head of the CPRF faction in the State Duma, in which I work, which is a great friend of the Belarusian people. How many kind words I heard today?

We should appreciate our friendship. Our union state is the basis of the greatest union in the world! Today’s elections are another step towards building a happy present and the future of each of us.”

The final results of the presidential elections will be summed up by the CEC of the Republic of Belarus. They will be published no later than February 5, 2025, that is, 10 days after the elections.

Preliminary votes of voters submitted for each candidate for President of the Republic of Belarus were distributed as follows: Oleg Gaydukevich – 2.02%; Anna Kanopatskaya – 1.86%; Alexander Lukashenko – 86.82%; Sergey Syrankov – 3.21%; Alexander Khizhnyak – 1.74%; against all – 3.60%.

The absolute, deserved victory of the national leader – Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko – is a guarantee that in the next five years it will retain peace, security and progressive socio-economic development.

The result of the candidate from the Communist Party, Sergei Syrankov, who took second place, indicates that Belarusian society has got rid of politically, that the Communist Party of Belarus is on the right track.

By drawing certain ideological, organizational and personnel conclusions, the Communist Party of Belarus will continue to work not instead, but together with the President for the benefit of his country and his people, including for the implementation of the main points of its program.

At their final meeting, international observers from the IPA of the CIS exchanged information on the observation, noting that the elections were held at a high organizational level. There were also a high level of training of members of election commissions, organization of voting, and voter activity. No one doubted that the choice made by Belarus will have an impact on further cooperation in the Commonwealth of Independent States.