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Lukashenko Runs for Seventh Term in Belarus Amid Widespread Criticism and Allegations of Election Fraud
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is running for a seventh term in office, facing sharp criticism over what many are calling a sham election. The vote, held in the middle of a harsh winter, has been widely condemned by international observers and opposition figures as undemocratic and predetermined.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, previously claimed victory in the 2020 election with 80.1% of the vote amid an 84.4% voter turnout. However, the results sparked mass protests across the country, with tens of thousands of Belarusians accusing the government of electoral fraud. The regime responded with a brutal crackdown, detaining thousands of protesters and relying on Russian support to suppress dissent.
This year, Lukashenko has taken measures to prevent a repeat of the 2020 unrest, including moving the election to January and barring opposition candidates. Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran against Lukashenko in 2020 after her husband was jailed, criticized the election as a farce. Tsikhanouskaya is among approximately 600,000 Belarusians who have fled the country since 2020, leaving them unable to vote.
The European Commission has denounced the election as undemocratic, with spokesperson Anitta Hipper describing it as a “total sham.” She called for the release of around 1,300 political prisoners currently held by the regime, as reported by the human rights organization Viasna.
Opposition voices have expressed a mix of anger, frustration, and resignation. Belarusian artist and exile Lesia Pcholka said the elections are meaningless under Lukashenko’s authoritarian rule. “This will be the seventh presidential election, and nothing has ever changed,” she said. Pcholka compared the protests of 2020 to those in Hong Kong, reflecting on the sacrifices made by demonstrators.
Journalist and activist Andrei Gnyot, who has faced imprisonment and exile, dismissed the vote as a “mockery of the country.” He warned that recognizing the election’s results would only embolden Lukashenko’s regime, which he accused of holding its citizens hostage through fear and repression.
This election marks the first since the mass protests of 2020, a watershed moment for Belarus that has forced thousands into exile and drawn international scrutiny. However, with no opposition candidates and Lukashenko’s grip on power tighter than ever, many Belarusians fear the outcome is already decided.
As Belarus heads to the polls, the international community faces renewed calls to reject the election as illegitimate and hold Lukashenko accountable for alleged human rights abuses and the erosion of democratic principles in the country.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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