Belarusian President Lukashenko says he will seek reelection in 2025

ISTANBUL

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Sunday that he will seek a seventh term during the country’s presidential election set to take place in 2025.

“I will run (for president). Tell this to them (the Belarusian opposition in exile),” Lukashenko told reporters at a polling station in the capital Minsk after voting in the country’s parliamentary and local elections, according to state news agency Belta.

“Not a single person, a responsible president will abandon his people who followed him into battle and this is very important for me,” he added.

Voters have begun casting their ballots early Sunday in the country's parliamentary and local elections.

Next year, Belarus is scheduled to hold a presidential election, the date of which has yet to be been announced.

Lukashenko also touched on Armenia’s suspension of its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), saying that the alliance will not collapse as a result.

“We react to this (decision) absolutely calmly. If they don’t want to be in the CSTO, it won’t collapse, it won’t be destroyed,” Lukashenko said.

Indicating that there has not yet been an official notification from Armenia on this matter, Lukashenko asked the Armenian side to not rush in making any sudden decisions.

“It’s easy to leave. But then it will be difficult to come in. No need to leave, no need to freeze something,” he said.

On Thursday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told France24 in an interview that Yerevan had suspended its participation in the CSTO.