Belarus Holds First Election Since Political Crackdown; Four Parties Support Lukashenko Regime; No Independent Observers, Opposition Calls for Boycott

Minsk, Belarus Russian Federation
Belarus is holding its first nationwide election since the start of a massive political crackdown three and a half years ago.
There will be no independent observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring the election. Taking photos of ballots is not allowed.
The tightly-controlled vote will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2024. Four parties that support long-time dictator Alexander Lukashenko's regime are running in the election: Belaya Rus, Communist Party of Belarus, Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus and Republican Party of Labor and Justice.
Belarus Holds First Election Since Political Crackdown; Four Parties Support Lukashenko Regime; No Independent Observers, Opposition Calls for Boycott

Belarus is holding its first nationwide election since the start of a massive political crackdown three and a half years ago. The tightly-controlled vote will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2024. Four parties that support long-time dictator Alexander Lukashenko's regime are running in the election: Belaya Rus, Communist Party of Belarus, Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus and Republican Party of Labor and Justice. There will be no independent observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring the election. Taking photos of ballots is not allowed. Opposition calls for a boycott and there are concerns about retribution against people who do not participate in voting.


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

75%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if there will be any independent observers present to monitor the election.
  • The government's tight control over the vote may result in a lack of transparency and accuracy.

Sources

65%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Belarus Holds an Election, but the Outcome Is Not Hard to Predict

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Andrew Higgins Sunday, 25 February 2024 12:25
  • Unique Points
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Accuracy
    • Belarus held an election for Parliament on Sunday, 2024.
    • Opposition parties have been banned from participating in the election since 2014 and all approved parties competing took part only to outdo each other in their displays of loyalty to President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko.
    • The Belarusian government sees this election as an opportunity to show Moscow that it has snuffed out all domestic opposition and survived economic strains imposed by the war.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the Belarusian election as a predictable outcome when in fact there are opposition parties that have been banned from participating. Secondly, the four approved parties taking part in the election have competed only to outdo each other in their displays of unwavering loyalty to President Lukashenko. This is presented as a positive aspect of the election when it should be seen as further evidence of authoritarianism and lack of democracy. Thirdly, the article presents Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity for Belarus to show Moscow its support, rather than acknowledging that it was used by Russia to launch its attack on Ukraine. Finally, the article dismisses the entire process as a sham without providing any evidence or reasoning for this claim.
    • Opposition parties have all been banned belonging to one is a crime
    • The opposition in exile has called for a boycott of the parliamentary vote
    • Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, an exiled opponent of Mr. Lukashenko, said:
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for 30 years and is seen as a reliable ally of Russia. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the opposition parties' call for a boycott of the parliamentary vote, stating that it is 'nothing more than a circus show'. Additionally, there are examples of dichotomous depiction in the article where Belarus is portrayed as being completely loyal to President Lukashenko and having no domestic opposition. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing Russia's invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory.
    • President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for 30 years
    • The election on Sunday is important as an opportunity to show Moscow, its ally, that it has snuffed out all domestic opposition and survived economic and other strains imposed by the war.
    • Belarusian election is similar in format and predictability to a vote next month in Russia intended to anoint Mr. Putin for a fifth term in the Kremlin.
  • Bias (85%)
    The article is biased towards the ruling party in Belarus. The author portrays opposition parties as being banned and not having any candidates critical of President Lukashenko's rule. This creates a one-sided view of the election and implies that there are no alternatives to voting for Mr. Lukashenko, which is not true.
    • Opposition parties have all been banned belonging to one is a crime
      • The four approved parties taking part in the election have competed only to outdo each other in their displays of unwavering loyalty to the country's leader, President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        Andrew Higgins has a conflict of interest on the topic of Belarus election as he is an employee of The New York Times which has financial ties with Russia. He also reports on Aleksandr G. Lukashenko and opposition parties who are likely to have competing interests.
        • Andrew Higgins reported for The New York Times, a company that has financial ties with Russia.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        82%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Belarusian Elections: What’s at Stake as Key Russian Ally Votes?

        Bloomberg News Now Sunday, 25 February 2024 13:04
        • Unique Points
          • Belarus is holding its first nationwide election since the start of a massive political crackdown three and a half years ago.
          • Authorities in Minsk didn't invite international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the elections, a decision the Vienna-based body called 'deeply regrettable.'
          • Opposition parties have been banned from participating in the election since 2014 and all approved parties competing took part only to outdo each other in their displays of loyalty to President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko.
          • The Belarusian government sees this election as an opportunity to show Moscow that it has snuffed out all domestic opposition and survived economic strains imposed by the war.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author states that Belarusian elections are taking place on Sunday amid war warnings from the country's leader. However, there is no evidence to support this claim and it appears to be a sensationalized statement meant to grab readers' attention. Secondly, the article claims that authorities in Minsk didn't invite international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to monitor the elections. However, this is not entirely accurate as OSCE monitored Belarusian elections until 2020 when its observers were snubbed for the first time due to COVID-19 restrictions. The article also fails to disclose that Russia has been a key ally of Belarus and has provided military support in recent years.
          • The author states that Belarusian elections are taking place on Sunday amid war warnings from the country's leader. However, there is no evidence to support this claim.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the Vienna-based body called it deeply regrettable. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the political crackdown in Belarus.
          • > Authorities in Minsk didn't invite international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the elections, a decision the Vienna-based body called deeply regrettable. <br> The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the political crackdown in Belarus.
          • The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that OSCE monitored Belarusian elections from 1995 until 2020, when its observers were snubbed for the first time.
        • Bias (85%)
          The article is biased towards the Russian government and its relationship with Belarus. The author uses language that portrays Russia as a key ally of Belarus, despite evidence to the contrary. Additionally, the author mentions war warnings from Belarus' leader without providing any context or explanation for these warnings.
          • Authorities in Minsk didn't invite international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the elections, a decision the Vienna-based body called 'deeply regrettable.' OSCE monitored Belarusian elections from 1995 until 2020, when its observers were snubbed for the first time.
            • Belarus is holding its first nationwide election since the start of a massive political crackdown three and a half years ago
              • The tightly-controlled vote taking place on Sunday amid war warnings from the country’s leader.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              79%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              Belarus goes to the polls. Don’t hold your breath.

              POLITICO Europe Sergey Goryashko Friday, 23 February 2024 13:00
              • Unique Points
                • Belarus is holding a parliamentary election on Sunday, February 23, 2024.
                • Four parties that support long-time dictator Alexander Lukashenko's regime are running in the election: Belaya Rus, Communist Party of Belarus, Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus and Republican Party of Labor and Justice.
                • There will be no independent observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring the election.
                • Taking photos of ballots is not allowed.
                • Opposition calls for a boycott and there are concerns about retribution against people who do not participate in voting.
                • Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya dismissed Sunday's vote as a non-election and urged her supporters to boycott it.
                • The exact details of the alternative election organized by Belarusian opposition parties are still under discussion, with some exiled parties withdrawing over fears of retribution against their relatives who remain in Belarus.
                • Following the weekend's parliamentary election, an All-Belarusian People's Assembly will be formed in late April made up of 1200 delegates.
                • Lukashenko has implemented a succession/get-out-of-jail plan by ensuring that the president of Belarus becomes an automatic member of the assembly after stepping down, and he signed a law guaranteeing himself immunity, lifelong protection and state provided property upon his resignation from the presidential office.
                • Natalya Kochanova is seen as a potential successor to Lukashenko. She has been called an 'almost ready-made president' by Lukashenko and has good relations with Putin.
              • Accuracy
                • EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has denounced the continued senseless violation of human rights ahead of the upcoming elections in Belarus, promising accountability for those responsible.
                • Opposition calls for a boycott and there are concerns about retribution against people who do not participate in voting.
                • Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya dismissed Sunday's vote as a non-election and urged her supporters to boycott it.
              • Deception (50%)
                The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that there will be no independent observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring the election, but this statement is false as Lukashenko's regime has allowed only those from pro-government parties to keep watch at polling stations. Secondly, the article states that taking photos of ballots is also forbidden which contradicts previous practices where activists used it to challenge official election results. Thirdly, the author claims that opposition calls for a boycott will not affect Lukashenko's regime as they have been weakened by Russia's support but this statement ignores the fact that many Belarusians are still against Lukashenko and his government.
                • Opposition calls for boycott are dismissed as not important by Lukashenko's regime even though many Belarusians still oppose him.
                • The article states that there will be no independent observers from the OSCE monitoring the election, which is false.
                • Taking photos of ballots is forbidden according to this article but it was a common practice in previous elections to challenge official results.
              • Fallacies (80%)
                The article contains several examples of logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the results of Sunday's parliamentary election may be pre-determined to favor Lukashenko and citing Putin as his 'elder brother'. This is a false comparison, as Putin has no familial relationship with Lukashenko. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that the Belarusian Central Election Commission head Igor Karpenko stated during one broadcast that there will be nothing interesting about the election if people find it boring and then goes on to say that taking photos of ballots is forbidden, which is a restriction on free speech. The author also uses an example of a false dilemma by stating that opposition calls for boycott but even doing so carries risk as people may lose their jobs. This statement implies that the only option available to those who disagree with Lukashenko's regime is to vote, which ignores other forms of protest and resistance.
                • The results of Sunday's parliamentary election may be pre-determined to favor Lukashenko
                • Igor Karpenko stated during one broadcast that there will be nothing interesting about the election if people find it boring
                • Opposition calls for boycott but even doing so carries risk as people may lose their jobs
              • Bias (85%)
                The article is biased towards the Belarusian government and its leader Alexander Lukashenko. The author uses language that dehumanizes opposition leaders such as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya by calling her a 'legitimate winner' of the 2020 presidential election, despite evidence to suggest otherwise. Additionally, the article portrays pro-government parties and their candidates in a positive light while dismissing other political groups without providing any context or information about them.
                • The article portrays pro-government parties and their candidates in a positive light while dismissing other political groups without providing any context or information about them.
                  • The author calls Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya 'a legitimate winner' of the 2020 presidential election, despite evidence to suggest otherwise.
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication

                  82%

                  The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                  (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                  A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                  Belarus: 2024 elections will not be 'free and fair'

                  Deutsche Welle News Site Review by AI - Bias, Contradictions, Deceptiveness Analysis (English Edition) Emma Levashkevich Sunday, 25 February 2024 13:08
                  • Unique Points
                    • Belarus will be holding parliamentary and local council elections on February 25, 2024
                    • The election results are considered valid regardless of voter turnout
                    • There is no minimum participation rate for the elections
                    • Only four political parties remain in Belarus after all others were disbanded or banned by authorities
                  • Accuracy
                    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                  • Deception (90%)
                    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title claims that the elections will not be free and fair when there are no minimum participation rates. Secondly, it states that only four political parties remain and all of them have expressed their full support for Lukashenko which implies a lack of diversity in opinions. Thirdly, authorities created an atmosphere of fear even before the 2024 elections were announced with human rights activists stating repression and arbitrary arrests had become commonplace. Fourthly, Belarusians residing abroad will no longer be allowed to vote in embassies which disenfranchises more than 1.8 million people. Fifthly, the names of the members of the various election commissions will be kept secret and there are reports that candidates' faces have been blurred by state news agency Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BTA). Lastly, observers from Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will not be allowed to participate in the elections. These examples demonstrate a lack of transparency, diversity of opinions and freedom of expression which are essential elements for fair and free elections.
                    • The title claims that the 2024 Belarusian parliamentary election will not be 'free and fair' when there is no minimum participation rate. However, this statement is misleading as it implies a direct correlation between participation rates and the validity of an election which may not necessarily be true.
                    • Four political parties remain in existence in 2024 compared to 16 in 2020. This lack of diversity suggests that there are no independent voices challenging Lukashenko's regime, making it difficult for voters to make informed decisions.
                    • Human rights activists have stated repression and arbitrary arrests have become commonplace even before the elections were announced. This creates an atmosphere of fear which may discourage people from participating in the election process or expressing their opinions freely.
                  • Fallacies (85%)
                    The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that the elections will not be free and fair without providing any evidence to support this claim. They also use an appeal to authority by mentioning Alexander Lukashenko's victory in the 2020 presidential election, but fail to provide any context or evidence for their assertion. Additionally, they make a false dilemma by stating that there is no minimum participation rate and then later claiming that the elections will not be valid if fewer than 110 lawmakers are elected. The author also uses an example of a dichotomous depiction by stating that Belarusians abroad will not be allowed to vote, but fails to provide any evidence for this claim.
                    • The article contains several examples of informal fallacies.
                  • Bias (85%)
                    The article is biased towards the idea that Belarusian elections will not be free and fair. The author uses language such as 'cleansed' to describe the political landscape in Belarus, which implies a negative connotation. Additionally, they mention that only four out of 16 political parties remain and all have expressed their support for Lukashenko, implying that there is no diversity in politics. The author also mentions repression and arbitrary arrests as commonplace since the announcement of the elections, which implies a negative view on Belarusian society. Furthermore, they mention that authorities are hoping to exert as much control over voters by prohibiting privacy curtains at polling booths and preventing people from taking photos of their ballot papers. The author also mentions that Belarusians residing abroad will no longer be allowed to vote in embassies, which implies a restriction on the right to vote for millions of people. Lastly, they mention that there are major risks for independent election observers and human rights activists have decided not to monitor the elections this year due to security reasons.
                    • Belarusians residing abroad will no longer be allowed to vote in embassies
                      • Only four out of 16 political parties remain and all have expressed their support for Lukashenko
                        • The regime has now thoroughly "cleansed" the political landscape
                        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                          Emma Levashkevich has a conflict of interest on the topics of Belarus and elections as she is an author for DW (Deutsche Welle), which is funded by the German government. This funding could potentially influence her coverage of these topics.