Fact Check: Lukashenko claims 80% of votes in disputed 2020 election amid massive protests!

Fact Check: "Lukashenko claims 80% of votes in disputed 2020 election amid massive protests!"

What We Know

In the 2020 presidential election held in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner with approximately 80.23% of the votes, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC) (BBC). This result was met with widespread skepticism and allegations of electoral fraud, particularly from the main opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who received only 9.9% of the votes. Tikhanovskaya and her supporters claimed that the election results "completely contradict common sense" and indicated that the authorities were attempting to hold onto power through force (BBC, NPR).

The election was marked by significant unrest, with mass protests erupting across the country in response to the results. Eyewitness accounts and reports indicated that police used rubber bullets and other means to disperse protesters, leading to thousands of arrests and injuries (BBC, CNN). The international community, including the European Union and the United States, expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the election and condemned the government's crackdown on dissent (New York Times, Congress.gov).

Analysis

The claim that Lukashenko received 80% of the votes in the disputed 2020 election is substantiated by official sources, specifically the CEC's announcement. However, the credibility of this claim is heavily contested. The lack of independent observers during the election raised serious concerns about the integrity of the voting process. Reports of widespread vote-rigging and the suppression of opposition voices further undermine the legitimacy of the official results (BBC, Wikipedia).

The opposition's refusal to accept the results, alongside the massive protests that followed, indicates a significant portion of the population believed the election was neither free nor fair. The protests themselves, which attracted hundreds of thousands of participants, were described as the largest in Belarus's history, highlighting the public's discontent with Lukashenko's regime (NPR, AP News).

While the CEC's figures are officially recognized, the context of the election—marked by repression and allegations of fraud—casts doubt on their validity. The international response, including sanctions and condemnation from various governments, further illustrates the perception of the election as illegitimate (Congress.gov).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Lukashenko received 80% of the votes in the disputed 2020 election is factually accurate based on official reports. However, the context of the election, characterized by allegations of fraud and significant public dissent, raises critical questions about the legitimacy of this claim. While the percentage is correct, it is essential to understand that it is contested and widely viewed as a product of an undemocratic process.

Fact Check: Lukashenko claims 80% of votes in disputed 2020 election amid massive protests!