Thread by @PavelSlunkin

I know that many journalists and editors-in-chief follow me here. This short thread is for you.

Please remember that when you call Alexander Lukashenko the “President of Belarus” this is neither true, nor correct. And this misleads your reader. Some facts further…

This is not my personal view or analytical assessment, but an official position of dozens of states. After rigged elections in 2020 the EU, its member states, USA, UK, Canada, NZ, Ukraine and many many other countries don’t recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus

Since then no Ambassador of these states has presented credentials to Lukashenko so as not to recognize his legitimacy or call him president in official documents

Some parliaments of the EU states like f.ex. of Lithuania and Latvia even adopted special resolutions underlining their official position on the issue
@LithuaniaMFA @Latvian_MFA

And here is yesterday’s @OSCE parliamentary assembly resolution where Lukashenko’ regime is called “illegitimate”. The Council of Europe has previously adopted a resolution with the same position
@coe
@oscepa

His “illegitimacy” is not just a word in a political statement. Lukashenko does not represent the will of the people of Belarus. This is proven everyday by the state terror by his regime against them

There are 1497 internationally recognized political prisoners in Belarus now. The real number is much higher

You can also see his illegitimacy in polls. Belarusians are against the war in Ukraine, against Russian nuclear arms in Belarus and demand change. While Lukashenka welcomes Russian troops and Wagner war criminals to the country and has turned Belarus into an aggressor state

My humble recommendation for you is to call him “illegitimate president”, “self-proclaimed president” or just “ruler”, “dictator” and so on. This does not contradict the principle of journalistic neutrality and reflects the reality more accurately while not misleading your reader

If you think that the fight for freedom by Belarusians deserves some respect this is a good chance to show your support.

Thank you!