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"Do you accept the amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Belarus portal |
A constitutional referendum was held in Belarus on 27 February 2022. The referendum was ordered by President Alexander Lukashenko in January 2022. According to political analysts, changes to the Belarusian constitution were intended to solidify the power of Lukashenko's regime after the mass protests in 2020 and 2021, which challenged his rule and was brutally suppressed by police. More than 35,000 people were arrested, 1,070 of whom are acknowledged political prisoners. The changes to the Constitution allow Lukashenko to remain in office until 2035 and empower the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, an extra-parliamentary body dominated by government supporters.[1][2] The changes also renounced Belarus's nuclear-free zone status, allowing Belarus to host nuclear weapons for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union; the lead-up to the referendum occurred as Russia amassed its troops in both Russia and Belarus in the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the election itself was held several days after Russia began its military offensive into Ukraine.[3][4][5]
According to the Central Election Commission of Belarus (CEC), 65.2% of voters voted in favor of the amendments to the State Constitution, offered by the authorities.[5]
The referendum was carried out in an atmosphere of repression;[6] the Belarusian opposition was not permitted to campaign, and the election was considered neither free nor fair.[7] The referendum was denounced as a sham by the Belarusian opposition and its exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,[5] by the European Union,[8] and by the United States.[9]
- ^ Yuras Karmanau, Belarus calls referendum that could strengthen Lukashenko, Associated Press (January 20, 2022).
- ^ Tony Wesolowsky, Belarus To Vote On Constitutional Changes Seen As Tightening Lukashenka's Grip On Power, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (February 26, 2022).
- ^ Belarus votes to give up non-nuclear status, Al Jazeera (February 27, 2022).
- ^ Belarus referendum approves proposal to renounce non-nuclear status - agencies, Reuters (February 27, 2022).
- ^ a b c Yuras Karmanau, Belarus sheds neutral status in vote critics call rigged, Associated Press (February 28, 2022).
- ^ "ЕС о референдуме: в условиях нарушения прав человека и жестоких репрессий" [EU on Referendum: Human Rights Violations and Massive Repressions] (in Russian). Euroradio. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ Ryhor Astapenia, Belarus’ new dubious constitution, International Politics and Society (March 3, 2022).
- ^ Belarus: Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the constitutional referendum, European External Action Service.
- ^ U.S. Envoy To Belarus Says Referendum 'Unmistakably' Linked to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (March 1, 2022).