The outgoing Belarusian president towards re-election. Alexander Lukashenko was widely given the lead in the presidential election on Sunday by an official poll, after a tense ballot marked by the rise of a surprise rival, which was able to mobilize the crowds despite growing repression.
Most polling stations closed at 5:00 p.m. GMT but some were allowed to stay open due to the crowds, very heavy with giant queues that formed in this former Soviet republic nestled between the EU and Russia and directed since 1994 by Lukashenko.
According to a first official poll taken at the exit of the polling stations, the Belarusian president obtained 79.7% of the vote, while the face of the opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is given second with 6.8%. Official results are expected overnight.
The opposition denounces massive fraud
The latter's campaign had not reacted to these data, but it has continued to denounce massive fraud orchestrated by the authorities to grant a 6th term to the outgoing president.
An English teacher by training, this 37-year-old woman felt that it was "hopeless" to expect a fair ballot because of "shameless fraud". The number of observers was reduced to a minimum and independent international observers were unable to come.
She called on her supporters to wear white bracelets when going to vote, as a sign of support and to send photos of their ballots in order to organize an independent count.
Long queues to vote
The polls took place in a tense atmosphere, with police checks and limited traffic in Minsk, the capital, while armored vehicles, riot vehicles and water cannons were deployed, according to AFP journalists. Opposition songs echoed from buildings and cars. Internet communications were extremely slow or even inaccessible on Sunday. The authorities have warned against any mobilization in the streets.
Small groups of people gathered in the evening in front of various polling stations, according to journalists from AFP and the media, as the opposition called on its voters to remain mobilized during the count.
AFP journalists noted very long queues to vote in Minsk and Moscow, where many Belarusians live. The President of the Electoral Commission, Lidia Ermochina, described these queues as "sabotage" of the presidential election and "provocation" organized by the opposition. Turnout stood at 79%, according to 6:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. GMT) figures.
After voting, Alexander Lukashenko said there would be no "loss of control" or "chaos", as calls to protest were broadcast online. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, whose rise galvanized Belarus, for her part called for an “honest election” after having voted.
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- Elections
- Alexander Lukashenko
- World
- Belarus