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Narrative Report “Presidential Elections in Belarus on 26.01.2025”

Belarus Strategic Communications Centre

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Narrative Report “Presidential Elections in Belarus on 26.01.2025”

Executive Summary

Published in the days before the published Presidential Elections in Belarus, which were held on 26.01.2025, this in-depth analysis examines the narratives propagated by Belarusian state media regarding the electoral process and their role in legitimising the continued rule of Alexander Lukashenko. It also provides recommendations for countering misinformation and reinforcing democratic values.

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Key Findings

The report highlights several recurring narratives in Belarusian state media:

  • Electoral Sovereignty – The Belarusian government asserts that the elections are solely an internal affair, rejecting international democratic standards and oversight.
  • Legitimacy Through Law – State media claim that the elections strictly adhere to national legal frameworks, shifting the focus from transparency and fairness to procedural compliance.
  • Elections as a National Ritual – The campaign is framed as a patriotic event rather than a democratic exercise, reinforcing the notion that supporting the government is a civic duty.
  • External Threats and Opposition Suppression – The regime amplifies narratives about Western interference and opposition figures as foreign agents seeking to destabilise Belarus.
  • Cult of Personality – Lukashenko is presented as an irreplaceable leader, with extensive public support and exceptional qualities justifying his prolonged rule.
  • Learning from 2020 – The government portrays itself as having drawn lessons from past protests, vowing to prevent similar unrest and securing its control over political processes.

Conclusion

The implementation of these recommendations requires coordinated efforts aimed at exposing propaganda, consolidating society, and international pressure. These measures will help not only to counter the legitimisation of the 2025 elections, but also to strengthen Belarus’ democratic forces in the long term.

Acknowledgements:

The Counter Disinformation Network (CDN) is a collaborative platform that gathers more than 150 information manipulation-countering practitioners from over 30 civil society organisations, universities, news organisations, fact-checking organisations and independents mostly from Europe and North America. The network was initially convened by Alliance4Europe with the aim of protecting European democracy and information integrity. The network works to coordinate projects, respond to major events and crises, distribute research findings to actors who can use it, and facilitate exchange.

Funding Disclaimer:

This report is a public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition ‘Public Diplomacy 2024-2025 – the European dimension and countering disinformation.’

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the official positions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

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