Belarus has scheduled its next presidential election for January 26, which is expected to extend Alexander Lukashenko's authoritarian rule. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has condemned the election as a 'farce,' citing the lack of political dissent and ongoing repression. Despite releasing some political prisoners, analysts believe Lukashenko is seeking legitimacy amid Western sanctions. The political climate remains tense, with many opposition figures jailed or in exile.