President-elect of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko was today sworn in for a new term in office, IPN reports.

"On January 26, we passed another historic crossroads. We crossed it confidently and wisely, without departing from the path we have traveled for a third of a century and the path of righteousness that we call a state for the people. This is our path in Belarus," Lukashenko said in his inaugural speech.

Access to Belarusian websites during the swearing-in was restricted for users from abroad.

In his speech, Lukashenko claimed that Belarus ensures that everyone can express their opinion, but "will not allow freedom of speech to be used as a club for the destruction of one's own country", writes The Kyiv Independent.

The day before the inauguration, 10 human rights groups in Belarus denounced the January presidential elections and Lukashenko's continued rule.

The latest vote was "held in a profound human rights crisis, in an atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, the opposition and all dissidents," says one of the human rights groups' messages.

Aleksandr Lukashenko won a seventh term as president in the January 26 elections. He has led Belarus since 1994.

Photo source: president.gov.by