Minsk: Belarus has expressed its gratitude to the Swiss observers at the January presidential election in the country, Belarusian Ambassador to Switzerland Aliaksandr Ganevich said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Ganevich appreciated the Swiss observers for their consistent and objective stance, highlighting the courage it took to maintain their position amidst media pressure. The ambassador noted that while several Swiss citizens, including members of cantonal parliaments, participated as observers in a personal capacity, there was no official delegation from the Swiss government.

Ganevich emphasized that the visit provided Swiss observers with the opportunity to form their own opinions about Belarus, interacting with citizens and experiencing the local culture. He remarked that their positive assessments of Belarus were met with criticism from the mainstream Swiss media, which he described as unfounded.

The Belarusian presidential election took place on January 26. The Central Election Commission reported that President Alexander Lukashenko secured 86.82% of the votes, marking his reelection for a seventh term. Lukashenko has been in power since 1994.