The presidential election in Belarus later this month cannot be free or fair because of a "repressive environment" in the country, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on January 17 in a statement.
"The United States joins many of our European allies in assessing that elections cannot be credible in an environment where censorship is ubiquitous and independent media outlets no longer exist," Blinken said.
The presidential election is scheduled to take place on January 26, and authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has run the country since 1994, is expected to win.
The election will take place in an environment in which only regime-approved candidates can appear on the ballot and members of the opposition are either imprisoned or in exile, Blinken said.
The United States condemns the regime’s attempts to "legitimize an election that cannot be free or fair,” he added.
The State Department issued the statement after Belarusian state broadcaster ONT aired the fourth part in a series of a propaganda films called Svaboda Slova (Freedom of Speech), which featured interviews with jailed RFE/RL's journalists.
SEE ALSO: Belarusian State TV Shows Fourth Part Of Propaganda Film Targeting RFE/RL Journalists, ActivistsThe statement did not mention the film series but quoted Blinken as saying the regime’s “systematic efforts to silence any dissent have determined the outcome of the election long before any ballots are cast, depriving the Belarusian people of the opportunity to choose their own leaders and determine their own future.”
The outgoing top U.S. diplomat also noted the regime’s failure to issue a timely invitation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the election “underscores its disregard for a transparent electoral process, as well as for its obligations as an OSCE participating state.”
The regime’s tactics to stifle the opposition “make it clear that the Lukashenka regime fears its own people,” showing that the bravery of Belarusians inside and outside the country is “having an effect,” Blinken added.
The United States recognizes the “extraordinary perseverance” of Belarusian individuals and civil society organizations working to hold the regime accountable, he said.
Washington also continues to advocate for the nearly 1,300 political prisoners who remain behind bars in Belarus and says it stands with the Belarusian people as they demand transparency, democracy, and freedom.