This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34499387
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lukashenko on course for re-election in Belarus | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus is reported to be on course for a landslide victory in the country's presidential election. | |
| State media says an exit poll indicates that President Lukashenko secured nearly 83% of the vote. No other candidate achieved more than 5%. | |
| Mr Lukashenko has governed the former Soviet republic almost unchallenged for 21 years. | Mr Lukashenko has governed the former Soviet republic almost unchallenged for 21 years. |
| No veteran opposition leaders stood as they were not allowed to register. | |
| They said that the vote would not be free or fair. | |
| Three other candidates were on the ballot paper besides Mr Lukashenko. | |
| Belarusian TV on Sunday showed the president casting his vote in an election in which he is seeking a fifth consecutive term of office. | |
| The president was accompanied to the polling station by his youngest son, Nikolai, who has accompanied his father on numerous public occasions in recent years. | The president was accompanied to the polling station by his youngest son, Nikolai, who has accompanied his father on numerous public occasions in recent years. |
| Critics have accused the president and his supporters of preventing the main opposition parties from building any public profile and restricting their access to the all-powerful state-owned media. | Critics have accused the president and his supporters of preventing the main opposition parties from building any public profile and restricting their access to the all-powerful state-owned media. |
| This year's Nobel Literature Prize laureate, Svetlana Alexievich, has warned that her country is a "soft dictatorship". | This year's Nobel Literature Prize laureate, Svetlana Alexievich, has warned that her country is a "soft dictatorship". |
| She said Mr Lukashenko was a man connected to the Soviet era and was untrustworthy. None of her books is published in Belarus. | She said Mr Lukashenko was a man connected to the Soviet era and was untrustworthy. None of her books is published in Belarus. |
| Belarus profile | Belarus profile |
| Still Europe's last dictator? | Still Europe's last dictator? |
| Why does President Lukashenko take his son to work? | Why does President Lukashenko take his son to work? |
| Belarus country profile | Belarus country profile |
| Last time a presidential election was held in Belarus - in 2010 - seven of the nine presidential candidates were arrested. | Last time a presidential election was held in Belarus - in 2010 - seven of the nine presidential candidates were arrested. |
| One of them was only released this year following widespread international pressure. | One of them was only released this year following widespread international pressure. |
| The candidates were accused of various offences, including the encouragement of violent protest and attempting to overthrow the state. | The candidates were accused of various offences, including the encouragement of violent protest and attempting to overthrow the state. |
| The opposition says that there are no plans for post-election demonstrations similar to those held in December 2010. | The opposition says that there are no plans for post-election demonstrations similar to those held in December 2010. |