US condemns 'sham' parliamentary elections in Belarus as undemocratic amid fear and repression

The main voting day in Belarus, which was Sunday, was designated for both parliamentary elections and local authorities. Early voting also preceded this. The elections were held without the participation of opposition candidates or independent observers, under an atmosphere of repression and absolute control of security structures.

"The United States condemns the sham parliamentary and local elections conducted by the Lukashenko regime, which concluded this Sunday," said the statement from the US foreign affairs agency.

The US authorities pointed out that over 1400 political prisoners are being held by the Belarusian regime, stating that all independent political activists have either been arrested or expelled.

"The authorities denied all political parties registration. Belarusians living abroad could only vote in Minsk, where they would likely face repression," stated the US State Department. It added that these abuses have effectively thwarted real political activity.

The statement also highlighted that the OSCE was denied the opportunity to observe the elections. The US State Department has once again urged the Belarusian authorities to cease the repression, release the political prisoners, and initiate a dialogue with political opponents.