Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed into law a provision granting him lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution and imposing restrictions on opposition leaders living in exile from participating in future presidential elections. The legislation, applicable theoretically to any former president and their family, primarily targets the long-standing ruler, Lukashenko, who has held power in Belarus for nearly three decades.
The move is seen as a strategic effort to further solidify Lukashenko’s authority and eliminate potential contenders in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for 2025. The law introduces stringent criteria for presidential candidates, making it impossible for opposition leaders who sought refuge in neighboring countries to run for office. Eligibility is now restricted to Belarusian citizens who have maintained permanent residency in the country for at least 20 years and have never held a residence permit elsewhere.
Belarus witnessed widespread protests following Lukashenko’s controversial re-election in August 2020, condemned by both the opposition and the West as fraudulent. The government’s response included the detention of over 35,000 individuals, many of whom faced torture or opted to leave the country.
Accusations against Lukashenko also include involvement in the illegal transfer of children from Russian-occupied Ukrainian towns to Belarus. The new law specifically states that, if he were to step down, Lukashenko “cannot be held accountable for actions committed in connection with exercising his presidential powers.”
Additionally, the law guarantees lifelong state protection, medical care, and life and health insurance for the president and his family. After resigning, the president would also secure a permanent position as a lifelong member of the upper house of parliament.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who sought asylum in Lithuania in 2020, characterized the law as Lukashenko’s response to his “fear of an inevitable future.” She asserted that international law would hold Lukashenko accountable for actions that have adversely affected thousands of Belarusians.
Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the opposition’s commitment to seeking justice, particularly regarding the disappearances of opposition politicians and the removal of Ukrainian children from Ukraine. She highlighted the existence of approximately 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.