Lukashenko took office as President of Belarus
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has taken office as President of Belarus. The inauguration ceremony took place in the Hall of Ceremonies, the largest in the Palace of Independence.
More than 1100 people were invited to the ceremony. A few minutes before Alexander Lukashenko's arrival, the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus and the Standard of the President of the Republic of Belarus were brought in. Symbolically, the route of the President's motorcade, accompanied by an honor guard of motorcyclists, ran along two main capital avenues - Independence and Pobediteley.
At the beginning of the ceremony, to the sounds of a ceremonial march, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus was brought to the inauguration venue. The ceremony was opened by the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, Igor Karpenko, who announced that by the will of the people of Belarus, in free and democratic elections, Alexander Lukashenko had been elected President of the country.
Placing his right hand on the Constitution, Alexander Lukashenko took the oath in Belarusian: "Заступаючы на пасаду Прэзідэнта Рэспублікі Беларусь, урачыста клянуся верна служыць народу Рэспублікі Беларусь, паважаць і ахоўваць правы і свабоды чалавека і грамадзяніна, захоўваць і абараняць Канстытуцыю Рэспублікі Беларусь, свята і добрасумленна выконваць ускладзеныя на мяне высокія абавязкі" (As I assume the office of President of the Republic of Belarus, I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to observe and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, to conscientiously fulfill the high duties entrusted to me).