The nation’s state press service launched pictures of the unannounced ceremony, which came about within the capital, Minsk, on Wednesday.
The embattled Belarusian president assumed workplace throughout a ceremony at Minsk’s Palace of Independence. No prior discover was given of the occasion, which took native journalists and opposition activists unexpectedly.
Opposition politicians described the ceremony as a “thieves’ assembly” and a “farce.”
The opposition Coordination Council, set as much as facilitate a switch of energy, urged members of the worldwide group Wednesday to help its members and denounce Lukashenko’s appointment.
“This morning Alexander Lukashenko appointed himself the President of the Republic of Belarus…the Belarusians didn’t vote for him within the election, although this farce can hardly be known as an election,” the Board of the Coordination Council mentioned Wednesday in a press release.
“We name on the European Union, Nice Britain, the USA, Canada, China, [and] Russia to take a transparent place on recognising Lukashenko [as] illegitimate and to think about recalling your ambassadors for consultations,” the assertion added.
The US mentioned Wednesday that it rejected the legitimacy of Lukashenko’s win.
“The US can not contemplate Alyaksandr Lukashenka (Alexander Lukashenko) the legitimately elected chief of Belarus,” a US State Division spokesperson mentioned in a press release to CNN.
“The elections August 9 had been neither free nor honest. The introduced outcomes had been fraudulent and didn’t convey legitimacy.”
Lukashenko was declared the landslide winner of the vote in August, however critics have publicly accused him of rigging the ballot, and have since disappeared from the nation.
Tens of 1000’s of protesters have additionally taken to the streets in mass demonstrations throughout Belarus for weeks.
Opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who’s coordinating the protests from exile in Lithuania, mentioned that “this so-called inauguration is, in fact, a farce.”
“Lukashenko’s try and protect his legitimacy solely factors to the truth that his earlier authority has ended, however Belarusian residents didn’t give him a brand new mandate,” Tikhanovskaya posted on her Telegram feed.
One other opposition politician, Pavel Latushko, accused Lukashenko of holding a “particular operation on self-inauguration.”
“Beneath the safety of riot police, within the environment of secrecy, in a slim circle of swiftly introduced officers. The place are the jubilant residents? The place are the diplomatic corps? To be sincere, it appears extra like a thieves’ assembly for the coronation of one other thief-in-law,” Latushko wrote on social media.
Lukashenko, who has been in energy since 1994, assumed the workplace for his sixth consecutive time period after taking an oath, state press service Belta reported.
“Assuming the workplace of the President of the Republic of Belarus, I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the folks of the Republic of Belarus, respect and defend the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, observe and defend the Structure of the Republic of Belarus, sacred and carefully fulfil the excessive duties entrusted to me,” the oath learn.
A number of hundred folks had been invited to Wednesday’s ceremony, based on the press service.
Belta mentioned that senior officers, deputies of the Home of Representatives, heads of state our bodies, scientists, tradition and sports activities figures had been invited.
Over latest weeks, Lukashenko and the Belarusian state safety equipment has been forcibly eradicating from the nation or detaining main opposition figures.
The Coordination Council reiterated its willingness to barter with authorities on Wednesday.
The opposition physique additionally known as on residents to proceed mobilizing towards the federal government.
“We’re prepared to start out instant negotiations with the Prime Minister of Belarus and with the Chairmen of commissions on the Chamber of Representatives about setting the date of a brand new election and about non permanent governance in the course of the transition interval,” the Coordination Council mentioned.
“We help the infinite peaceable civil disobedience, ignoring any and all directions from the unlawful authorities, peaceable actions within the streets of cities and cities,” it added.
In the meantime, demonstrations have continued throughout the nation, significantly at weekends. On Saturday, 430 folks had been detained in protests throughout the nation, based on the Inside Ministry. Of these, 415 had been within the capital Minsk. Some 385 folks had been launched as of Sunday morning, the Ministry mentioned.
