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Vote held in Belarus amid opposition boycott Belarus opposition shut out of parliament in election
(about 5 hours later)
Polling has taken place in the former Soviet state of Belarus for a parliamentary election being boycotted by the two main opposition parties. Belarus has elected a parliament filled with supporters of President Alexander Lukashenko, after a boycott by the two main opposition parties.
Opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko urged people not to vote, saying the polls were not free or fair. Election officials said the minimum turnout of 50% was reached in all 110 constituencies. In 16 there was only one candidate, because of the boycott.
However, election officials said turnout was nearly 75% and first results would be available on Monday. Opponents of Mr Lukashenko said the polls were not free or fair.
The vote comes two years after President Lukashenko won a landslide presidential election. He has ruled the ex-Soviet republic since 1994, stifling dissent. He called the opposition "cowards".
Since then, Belarus authorities have brutally suppressed the opposition. The vote came two years after Mr Lukashenko won a landslide presidential election, which was denounced by Western observers. He has been described as Europe's last dictator.
President Lukashenko is often referred to as Europe's last dictator and has ruled Belarus since 1994. Eleven political prisoners are currently in jail and Amnesty International says authorities also detained other opposition activists ahead of the election.
Eleven political prisoners are currently in jail and Amnesty International says authorities have also detained other opposition activists ahead of the election.
The two strongest opposition parties - United Civic and the BPF - pulled out of the race about a week ago.The two strongest opposition parties - United Civic and the BPF - pulled out of the race about a week ago.
'Like a farce' Mr Lukashenko and senior aides have been banned from travelling to the EU since the violent suppression of opposition parties in 2010.
Two other opposition parties - Just World and the Belarusian Social Democratic Party - are still in the running and members of unregistered opposition movements, such as the Tell the Truth campaign, are listed as unaffiliated candidates. Western observers will deliver their verdict on the elections shortly.
Some marginal opposition parties - Just World and the Belarusian Social Democratic Party - took part, but were not elected.
Election 'farce'
President Lukashenko cast his vote at a polling station in Minsk - his seven-year-old-son Nikolai at his side - and warned the opposition against trying to stage protests.President Lukashenko cast his vote at a polling station in Minsk - his seven-year-old-son Nikolai at his side - and warned the opposition against trying to stage protests.
"We don't need a revolution, or any sort of shocks," he said."We don't need a revolution, or any sort of shocks," he said.
"We don't need brawls, explosions or fights.""We don't need brawls, explosions or fights."
Before the election, Mikhail Pashkevich, a leader of Tell the Truth, told the BBC that the election results had been determined in advance. The head of an unregistered opposition group, Mikhail Pashkevich of Tell the Truth, told the BBC that the election results had been determined in advance.
"There are no elections... in Belarus now, only something like a farce, a play that is named election but is not an election," he said."There are no elections... in Belarus now, only something like a farce, a play that is named election but is not an election," he said.
Opposition leaders called on voters to do something else - go fishing, visit relatives, pick mushrooms or make soup - rather than vote.Opposition leaders called on voters to do something else - go fishing, visit relatives, pick mushrooms or make soup - rather than vote.
"This is our reaction to the pseudo-elections for the fake parliament," said Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party."This is our reaction to the pseudo-elections for the fake parliament," said Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party.
However, officials maintain that democracy is alive and well in Belarus.
Central Election Commission secretary Nikolai Lozovik said the opposition was a "Western creation" and was unpopular in Belarus.Central Election Commission secretary Nikolai Lozovik said the opposition was a "Western creation" and was unpopular in Belarus.
"The opposition does not reflect the people's will," he told the BBC."The opposition does not reflect the people's will," he told the BBC.
"Instead they are working in the interests of those Western forces that are sponsoring them.""Instead they are working in the interests of those Western forces that are sponsoring them."
Mr Lukashenko's 2010 election victory sparked violent confrontations in the capital Minsk between security forces and thousands of opposition activists who claimed the vote had been rigged.Mr Lukashenko's 2010 election victory sparked violent confrontations in the capital Minsk between security forces and thousands of opposition activists who claimed the vote had been rigged.
In the crackdown that followed, scores of opposition activists were arrested and many people, including several candidates who stood against Mr Lukashenko, were jailed.In the crackdown that followed, scores of opposition activists were arrested and many people, including several candidates who stood against Mr Lukashenko, were jailed.
Belarus has not held an election considered free and fair by Western observers since Mr Lukashenko came to power in 1994.Belarus has not held an election considered free and fair by Western observers since Mr Lukashenko came to power in 1994.
Observers anticipate that Sunday's vote will once again produce a parliament that will closely follow the party line.