Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a new law that gives him lifelong immunity from prosecution and prevents exiled opposition leaders from running in future presidential elections, the Guardian reported.
In theory, the law applies to all former presidents and their family members. In practice, it only applies to 69-year-old Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for almost 30 years.
The new measure appears to be aimed at further strengthening Lukashenko's power and eliminating potential challengers in the country's next presidential election, due to be held in 2025.
The law significantly tightens the requirements for presidential candidates and makes it impossible to elect opposition leaders who have fled to neighboring countries in recent years. Only citizens of Belarus who have permanently resided in the country for at least 20 years and have never had a residence permit in another country are eligible to apply.
Belarus was rocked by mass protests during Lukashenko's disputed re-election to a sixth term in August 2020, which the opposition and the West denounced as rigged. At the time, Belarusian authorities detained more than 35,000 people, many of whom were tortured in custody or fled the country.
Lukashenko is also accused of involvement in the illegal transfer of children from Russian-occupied towns in Ukraine to Belarus.
According to the text of the new law, if Lukashenko leaves power, he "cannot be held accountable for actions committed in connection with the exercise of his presidential powers."
The text also said that the president and members of his family will be provided with lifelong state protection, medical care and life and health insurance. After resigning, the president will also become a permanent life member of the upper house of parliament.
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighboring Lithuania in 2020, said the new law was Lukashenko's response to his "fear of the inevitable future", suggesting Lukashenko should be worried about what would happen to him. when he leaves power.
"Lukashenko, who ruined the destinies of thousands of Belarusians, will be punished according to international law, and no immunity will protect him from that, it's only a matter of time," Tikhanovskaya said.
The political opposition in the country wants an investigation into the disappearance of opposition politicians and the removal of Ukrainian children from Ukraine.
"We will ensure that the dictator is brought to justice," Tikhanovskaya said, stressing that Belarus still has around 1,500 political prisoners behind bars, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Belyatsky. /BGNES
