The Tajik president’s official website says President Emomali Rahmon sent a congratulatory telegram and held a phone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko regarding his reelection for a new presidential term.
“The results of the recent election and the active participation of voters have once again confirmed the high level of trust and broad public support for your strategic course aimed at sustainable socio-economic development and strengthening the country’s position on the international stage,” the telegram states.
Emomali Rahmon also highlighted the “positive dynamics of the development of Tajik-Belarusian relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation in the spirit of strategic partnership.”
“I am confident that we will continue to ensure fruitful cooperation between Tajikistan and Belarus, enriching it with new content,” the message adds.
In addition, the Tajik leader held a phone conversation with Lukashenko, during which he emphasized the Belarusian president’s contribution to “strengthening and expanding Tajik-Belarusian interstate relations.”
The presidential election in Belarus took place on January 26. Following exit poll results indicating Lukashenko's decisive victory, the election was widely described as a sham in Western news media and denounced as “neither free, nor fair” by the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas.
Election officials say turnout in Sunday’s vote was 85.7 percent, with about 6.9 million people eligible to vote. Lukashenko reportedly received more than 86.8 percent of the vote.
The Belarusian leader has won every presidential election since 1994.
