Editing Alexander Lukashenko (section)

=== Fourth term (2010–2015) ===
{{main|2010 Belarusian presidential election}}
[[File:Zapad-2013 strategic military exercises (2101-03).jpg|left|thumb|231x231px|Lukashenko and [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] at the Russian-Belarusian strategic military exercises in 2013]]
Lukashenko was one of ten candidates registered for the presidential election held in Belarus on 19 December 2010. Though originally envisaged for 2011, an earlier date was approved "to ensure the maximum participation of citizens in the electoral campaign and to set most convenient time for the voters".<ref>[http://news.belta.by/en/main_news?id=580390 Belarus sets date of presidential election for 19 December 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706163519/http://news.belta.by/en/main_news?id=580390 |date= 6 July 2011}}. News.belta.by (14 September 2010). Retrieved 19 May 2012.</ref> The run-up to the campaign was marked by a series of Russian media attacks on Lukashenko.<ref name="rferl1">RFE/RL. [http://www.rferl.org/content/Has_Moscow_Had_Enough_Of_Belaruss_Lukashenka/2104099.html Has Moscow Had Enough Of Belarus's Lukashenka?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065950/http://www.rferl.org/content/Has_Moscow_Had_Enough_Of_Belaruss_Lukashenka/2104099.html |date=4 March 2016 }}. (19 July 2010).</ref> The Central Election Committee said that all nine opposition figures were likely to get less than half the vote total that Lukashenko would get.<ref name="aljaz"/> Though opposition figures alleged intimidation<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/video/europe/2010/12/20101219113519102551.html |title=Activist fears over Belarus vote |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=19 December 2010 |access-date=23 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223053302/http://english.aljazeera.net/video/europe/2010/12/20101219113519102551.html |archive-date=23 December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> and that "dirty tricks" were being played, the election was seen as comparatively open as a result of desire to improve relations with both Europe and the US.<ref name="aljaz">{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/12/20101218142317982604.html |title='Dirty tricks' taint Belarus vote |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=18 December 2010 |access-date=23 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220044914/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/12/20101218142317982604.html |archive-date=20 December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On election day, two presidential candidates were seriously beaten by police<ref name=militia>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12037486 |title='Hundreds of protesters arrested' in Belarus |work=BBC News |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=20 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221051343/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12037486 |archive-date=21 December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> in different opposition rallies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12029814 |title=Police break up opposition rally after Belarus poll |work=BBC News |date=19 December 2010 |access-date=19 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219045049/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12029814 |archive-date=19 December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20101219/161845788.html |title=Two Belarus presidential candidates say attacked by special forces |agency=[[RIA Novosti]] |date=19 December 2010 |access-date=19 December 2010 |archive-date=24 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224170436/http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20101219/161845788.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazeta.ru/news/lastnews/2010/12/19/n_1624389.shtml |title=Спецназ избил двух кандидатов в президенты Белоруссии; Некляев без сознания |website=[[Gazeta.ru]] |date=19 December 2010 |access-date=19 December 2010 |archive-date=21 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221102435/http://gazeta.ru/news/lastnews/2010/12/19/n_1624389.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> On the night of the election, opposition protesters chanting "Out!", "Long live Belarus!" and other similar slogans attempted to storm the building of the government of Belarus, smashing windows and doors before riot police were able to push them back.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12029814 |title=Protesters try to storm government HQ in Belarus |work=BBC News |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=23 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220044005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12029814 |archive-date=20 December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The number of protesters was reported by major news media as being around or above 10,000 people.<ref name="rssult">{{cite news |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/12/2010122041217643974.html |title=Belarus president re-elected |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=23 December 2010 |archive-date=22 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222154326/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/12/2010122041217643974.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC-10000">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12029814 |title=Protesters try to storm government HQ in Belarus |publisher=BBC |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=11 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126024032/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12029814 |archive-date=26 January 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Reuters journalist-10000">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.reuters.com/andrei-makhovsky/ |title=Belarus' Lukashenko re-elected, police crackdown |work=Reuters |date=19 December 2010 |access-date=11 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223210521/http://blogs.reuters.com/andrei-makhovsky/ |archive-date=23 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="FT-10000">{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c92f7a2-0c0f-11e0-b1a3-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Amg9qpB9 |title=Hundreds arrested in Belarus protests |work=Financial Times |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=11 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122210159/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c92f7a2-0c0f-11e0-b1a3-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=22 January 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> At least seven of the opposition presidential candidates were arrested.<ref name=militia/>

Several of the opposition candidates, along with their supporters and members of the media, were arrested. Many were sent to prison, often on charges of organizing a mass disturbance. Examples include [[Andrei Sannikov]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20095761 |title=BBC News – Leading Belarus dissident Sannikov gets UK asylum |website=Bbc.co.uk |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=26 May 2013 |archive-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307034709/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20095761 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Alexander Otroschenkov]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newschool.edu/cps/subpage.aspx?id=69252 |title=Center for Public Scholarship :: Alexander Otroschenkov |website=Newschool.edu |access-date=26 May 2013 |archive-date=29 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329023648/http://www.newschool.edu/cps/subpage.aspx?id=69252 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ales Michalevic]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/883073/media-advisory-exiled-belarusian-presidential-candidate-ales-michalevic-to-visit-toronto |title=RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY: Media Advisory – Exiled Belarusian presidential candidate Ales Michalevic to visit Toronto |website=Newswire.ca |date=23 November 2011 |access-date=26 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328231259/http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/883073/media-advisory-exiled-belarusian-presidential-candidate-ales-michalevic-to-visit-toronto |archive-date=28 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Mikola Statkevich]],<ref>{{cite web |author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |url=http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=RFERL&type=&coi=BLR&rid=&docid=4e142af71e&skip=0 |title=Jailed Belarusian opposition leader not allowed to see wife, father |publisher=Refworld |date=1 June 2011 |access-date=26 May 2013 |archive-date=28 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328204847/http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=RFERL&type=&coi=BLR&rid=&docid=4e142af71e&skip=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Uladzimir Nyaklyayew]].<ref>{{cite web |work=Foreign Policy and Security Research, Forsecurity.org |url=http://forsecurity.org/swedish-pen-awards-prize-uladzimir-nyaklyayew |date=15 November 2011 |title=Swedish PEN awards prize to Uladzimir Nyaklyayew |access-date=26 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328200603/http://forsecurity.org/swedish-pen-awards-prize-uladzimir-nyaklyayew |archive-date=28 March 2014}}</ref> Sannikov's wife, journalist [[Iryna Khalip|Irina Khalip]], was put under house arrest.<ref>{{cite news |author=Taylor, Jerome |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/captive-belarusian-journalist-irina-khalip-allowed-to-visit-husband-in-britain-8497370.html |title=Captive Belarusian journalist Irina Khalip allowed to visit husband in Britain – Europe – World |newspaper=The Independent |date=15 February 2013 |access-date=26 May 2013 |archive-date=28 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328203656/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/captive-belarusian-journalist-irina-khalip-allowed-to-visit-husband-in-britain-8497370.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jaroslav Romanchuk|Yaraslau Ramanchuk]]'s party leader, Anatoly Lebedko, was also arrested.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlasphere.com/columns/110221-browne-belarus-romanchuk.php |author=Interview by Stephen Browne |date=21 February 2011 |website=TheAtlasSphere.com |title=BELARUSIAN DISSIDENT JAROSLAV ROMANCHUK |access-date=26 May 2013 |archive-date=15 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315163426/http://www.theatlasphere.com/columns/110221-browne-belarus-romanchuk.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Normandy format talks in Minsk (February 2015) 03 cropped.jpeg|thumb|Leaders of Belarus, Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine at the [[Minsk II]] summit, 11–12 February 2015]]
The CEC said that Lukashenko won 79.65% of the vote (he gained 5,130,557 votes) with 90.65% of the electorate voting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rec.gov.by/pdf/prb2010/soob9.pdf |script-title=ru:СООБЩЕНИЕ об итогах выборов Президента Республики Беларусь |access-date=26 December 2010 |date=5 January 2011|publisher=[[Central Election Commission of Belarus]] |language=ru |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105105337/http://www.rec.gov.by/pdf/prb2010/soob9.pdf |archive-date=5 January 2011}}</ref> The OSCE categorized the elections as "flawed" while the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] mission observers approved the results as legitimate.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 2010 |title=Russia-led observer mission says Belarus election legitimate |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/belarus-election-cis-idUSLDE6BJ0L520101220 |access-date=29 May 2023 |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529193903/https://www.reuters.com/article/belarus-election-cis-idUSLDE6BJ0L520101220 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Parfitt |first=Tom |date=20 December 2010 |title=Belarus election: opposition leaders beaten as Lukashenko declares victory |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/20/presidential-candidate-dragged-from-hospital |access-date=29 May 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529193903/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/20/presidential-candidate-dragged-from-hospital |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the OSCE also stated that some improvements were made in the run-up to the election, including the candidates' use of television debates and ability to deliver their messages unhindered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osce.org/item/48242.html |title=Belarus still has considerable way to go in meeting OSCE commitments, despite certain improvements, election observers say |access-date=26 December 2010 |date=20 December 2010 |publisher=OSCE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223091356/http://www.osce.org/item/48242.html |archive-date=23 December 2010}}</ref> Several European foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling the election and its aftermath an "unfortunate step backwards in the development of democratic governance and respect for human rights in Belarus."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/opinion/24iht-edbildt24.html Lukashenko the Loser] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109203749/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/opinion/24iht-edbildt24.html |date=9 November 2016 }}. Joint letter of Foreign Ministers of Germany, Sweden, Poland and Czech Republic. ''The New York Times'' (24 December 2010)</ref>

Lukashenko's inauguration ceremony of 22 January 2011 was boycotted by EU ambassadors, and only thirty-two foreign diplomats attended.<ref name=MTimes/> During this ceremony, Lukashenko defended the legitimacy of his re-election and vowed that Belarus would never have its own version of the 2004 [[Orange Revolution]] in [[Ukraine]] or [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]'s 2003 [[Rose Revolution]].<ref name=MTimes>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/lukashenko-growls-at-inauguration/429432.html Lukashenko Growls at Inauguration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602203428/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/lukashenko-growls-at-inauguration/429432.html |date=2 June 2016 }}, [[The Moscow Times]] (24 January 2011)</ref>

Effective 31 January 2011, the EU renewed a travel ban, prohibiting Lukashenko and 156 of his associates from traveling to EU member countries, as a result of the crackdown on opposition supporters.<ref>Dempsey, Judy (2 January 2011). [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/world/europe/03iht-belarus03.html/ U.S. and E.U. Join to Show Support for Belarus Opposition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723153838/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/world/europe/03iht-belarus03.html |date=23 July 2018 }}. ''The New York Times''</ref><ref>[http://www.macleans.ca/2011/02/17/not-welcome-in-the-eu/ The European Union has News for Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko: You're Grounded] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621135837/http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/02/17/not-welcome-in-the-eu/ |date=21 June 2013 }}. macleans.ca (17 February 2011).</ref><ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:028:0040:0056:EN:PDF COUNCIL DECISION 2011/69/CFSP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205102725/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:028:0040:0056:EN:PDF |date=5 February 2011 }}. Official Journal of the European Union. (31 January 2011).</ref>

Lukashenko was supportive of China's [[Belt and Road Initiative]] global infrastructure development strategy, and the inception in 2012 of the associated low-tax [[China–Belarus Industrial Park]] near [[Minsk National Airport]] planned to grow to {{convert|112|sqkm}} by the 2060s.<ref name=fdi-20190815>{{cite news |url=https://www.fdiintelligence.com/article/75443 |title=What the BRI brings to Belarus and Great Stone Industrial Park |author1=Jacopo Dettoni |author2=Wendy Atkins |work=fDi Intelligence |publisher=Financial Times |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=10 August 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823041156/https://www.fdiintelligence.com/article/75443 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nar-20200716>{{cite news |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Belt-and-Road/Unrest-threatens-China-s-Belt-and-Road-success-story-in-Belarus |title=Unrest threatens China's Belt and Road 'success story' in Belarus |last=Simes |first=Dimitri |website=Nikkei Asian Review |date=16 July 2020 |access-date=10 August 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809201059/https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Belt-and-Road/Unrest-threatens-China-s-Belt-and-Road-success-story-in-Belarus |url-status=live }}</ref>