But what did the results reveal? People in the country voted on whether to grant their authoritarian president a sixth term in office on Sunday, August 9. However, the final date was set during an extraordinary session of the National Assembly of Belarus on September 14, 2010. As the protests swept across Belarus following the election results, the primary opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya published a video saying that she left Belarus for Lithuania. But what did the results reveal? She said: "The figure also includes those, who cast their votes during early voting.". Opposition protesters clashed with security forces in Minsk after President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus was announced as winning a sixth term in an election critics say was rigged. People in the country. Footage has emerged of protesters fighting riot police in the capital, and media reports say a number of people have been arrested. The main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 6.8 percent of the vote based on the official exit poll. He has consolidated immense power over his 26 years in office, but in recent weeks has incurred anger over vote rigging which is likely to trigger a backlash. Results. Presidential elections were held in Belarus on 19 December 2010. Meantime, Twitter said Monday it was seeing "blocking and throttling" of its platform in Belarus in reaction to the protests. Then Svetlana came out to the lawyer, said that she made up her mind, said goodbye to him. Why sob and cry now? She said: "In my opinion, it is a big political deception of the voters for the sake of discrediting results of the election. A controversial election result Tikhanovskaya's campaign and independent observers say the vote was marred with widespread ballot stuffing and … The Central Election Commission in Belarus said there was 79 percent turnout by 6pm CET (5pm BST). Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights. The results of the Aug. 9 polls handed Lukashenko his sixth term with 80% of the vote, while the opposition candidate with the most support received 10%. Belarus election results: What did the Belarus election results reveal? About 63,000 people attended the largest event in Minsk in July -- making it the biggest demonstration in the past decade. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 6.8 percent of the vote based on the official exit poll. We have seen real protocols. The election campaign has been shaken by months of protests across the country and hundreds of detentions. The UK government urged Belarus to "refrain from further acts of violence" following the "seriously flawed" elections. Belarus’ central elections commission on Monday said preliminary results showed Lukashenko received a huge 80.24% of the vote, with Tikhanovskaya receiving just 9%. Dozens of independent observers were detained on Saturday and early Sunday, according to the "Honest people" and "Right to choose" initiatives. NetBlocks, an NGO that tracks internet shutdowns worldwide. "The violence and the attempts by Belarusian authorities to suppress protests are completely unacceptable," Foreign Office Minister James Duddridge said in a statement Monday. newspaper archive. She and her supporters refused to recognize the result, saying the vote was riddled with fraud. He has long drawn international criticism for suppressing dissent, and the country's secret police -- still known as the KGB -- often detain and harass opposition activists and independent journalists. The polls closed at 7pm CET (6pm BST), but voting will continue as people continued to queue in the capital city Minsk. ", He added, in a statement,"Severe restrictions on ballot access for candidates, prohibition of local independent observers at polling stations, intimidation tactics employed against opposition candidates, and the detentions of peaceful protesters and journalists marred the process.". The night before the election, Tikhanovskaya's campaign said she had. All in all, 5,767 polling stations have been set up for the presidential election, including 44 abroad. on Monday for the first round of the election. Coronavirus in Belarus: Is it safe to travel to Belarus? The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. President Lukashenko has refused to rule out holding fresh elections in an interview with Russian media. 2 of 4 Police block a street during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. President Alexander Lukashenko against a former teacher who emerged from obscurity to lead the biggest challenge in years against the man who has ruled the country for a quarter of century. "Attempts will be made to extrapolate the results onto the entire territory of the country. "Then she was alone for two to three hours having a conversation without the lawyer [inside the CEC building]. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko with his son Nikolai in Moscow. The presidential election in Belarus has been recognized as valid, local media has revealed from Ms Yermoshina. Thousands Protest Controversial Belarus Election Results The opposition claims the election was rigged as Lukashenko looks to extend his 26 … BRUSSELS — European Union leaders said on Wednesday that they would not recognize the results of the recent Belarus election and would shortly impose sanctions on … During presidential elections territorial election commissions sum up election results in a region (town). "Violence against protesters is not the answer Belarus," Charles Michel said on Twitter. Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya casts her ballot during the presidential election in Minsk on August 9, 2020. Several hundreds of retirees Monday took the streets of the Belarusian capital to demand the ousting of President Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus' authoritarian leader who won his sixth term in office in a widely disputed election. Speaking of Mr Lukashenko crowds on the streets have been chanting "Go away!". I've said it many times. Ms Tikhanovskaya reportedly left her apartment after police detained two senior staffers and seven other campaign members in what they called an attempt to scare the opposition before the vote. (CNN)Belarus' main opposition candidate has rejected preliminary election results giving the country's longtime President a landslide victory, as protests flared up for a second night. Veronika Tsepkalo, who worked closely with the opposition candidate, also fled for Moscow. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Belarus election campaign has unexpected sideshow: Spat with Russia over alleged interference Belarus’s president looks for his sixth election … "All of it will be later touted as some alternative sample. Belarus election results 2020: Exit polls reveal Svetlana Tikhanovskaya won 6.8 percent of the vote (Image: GETTY) On Monday, Lukashenko said he would not "allow the country to be torn apart," claiming that the protests were initiated by "foreign puppeteers," Belta reported. READ MORE: Russian troops join forces with Belarus and Serbia for war-games. The National Assembly (Нацыянальны сход, Nacyyanal'ny skhod) has two chambers. "Riot officers were wounded, there are broken arms and legs. ", Russia to ABSORB Belarus? She said: "I believe my eyes, and I see that the majority is with us.". Riots erupted after official exit polls were released late Sunday, showing a victory for Lukashenko, and resumed the following day. Independent observers in Belarus, such as the "Honest people" group, said they had also found significant discrepancies between the officially announced turnout and the number of people entering polling stations that they were able to count. The poll saw a massive turnout, according to official data, with the country's Central Election Commission saying Monday that the official turnout was at 84.23%. According to the CEC chairwoman, voter turnout has exceeded 50 percent in all the regions except for Minsk. In Minsk, the police used stun grenades to disperse crowds in the city centre. Independent monitoring group "Honest people" said at Tikhanovskaya's news conference that, according to its data, she won in at least 80 polling stations across Belarus. Her press secretary told reporters: "We can’t defend ourselves physically against armed people or the security services. The European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced on Friday that the block is refusing to recognize the presidential election results in Belarus, in which President Alexander Lukashenko was re-elected for a sixth consecutive term. but voting will continue as people continued to queue in the capital city Minsk. The opposition said it would keep an alternative count of the votes because it did not trust the election not to be rigged. In my opinion, it is a big political deception of the voters for the sake of discrediting results of the election. Framed as one of the toughest challenges to Lukashenko's 26-year-long rule, it was the Belarus strongman's sixth reelection campaign. Belarus elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. At the same time, independent observers declared that turnout data had been falsified in many constituencies, particularly in Minsk, and the real turnout was less than 50% required for the results in a constituency to be deemed valid. “The elections were neither fair nor free and therefore one cannot recognize the result of the … order back issues and use the historic Daily Express Belarus has seen mass protests triggered by President Alexander Lukashenko’s election to a sixth term in an Aug. 9 election that the opposition said was riddled with fraud. He was re-elected with 84% of the vote, according to official figures. Express. Riot police detain a group of demonstrators during a protest after polls closed in Belarus' presidential election, in Minsk on August 9, 2020. The vote was passed according to officially announced results, and nothing now stood in the way for Lukashenka to extend his rule. To win a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright in the first round according to electoral rules in Belarus. By Mary Ilyushina, Helen Regan and Tara John, CNN, Updated 2158 GMT (0558 HKT) August 10, 2020. Ms Tikhanovskaya said she did not trust the election results and said she had expected the vote to be rigged. Tikhanovskaya's campaign and independent observers say the vote was marred with widespread ballot stuffing and falsifications. Authorities detained the campaign manager of main opposition candidate, who became a candidate after her husband was jailed. Belarusian protesters and riot police have clashed in Belarus' capital Minsk and other cities, after a state TV exit poll was revealed. On Monday, the chief of the European Council criticized Belarus for attempting to quash protests. In the run-up to the election, law enforcement seemingly. There's a waiting hall inside and she entered with the lawyer," Krasulina said. News Belarus protests: Lukashenko raises prospect of fresh elections. He said: "They’re not even worth launching reprisals against.". The statement continued: "There has been a lack of transparency throughout the electoral process in addition to the imprisonment of opposition candidates, journalists and peaceful protestors.". Similar protests were staged in the cities of Brest and Zhodino. Biblical bug blizzard shows SWARM of mayflies invade major city, ‘Child abuser’ faces EXECUTION after baby found DECAPITATED. The European Union is refusing to recognize election results in Belarus and is preparing sanctions over the 'rigged' vote and the heavy-handed police response to protests, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has confirmed. On 7 May, Belarusian blogger and entrepreneur Syarhei Tsikhanouski has announced on his YouTube channel "Country for Life" that he intended to become a candidate in the presidential election. The election pitted President Alexander Lukashenko against a former teacher who emerged from obscurity to lead the biggest challenge in years against the man who has ruled the country for a quarter of century. The 37-year-old said that she was ready to meet Lukashenko to discuss bringing "peaceful change of power." MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Full preliminary results from parliamentary elections in Belarus show the chamber will have no members of the opposition to … The UK and France both expressed concern over Belarus' failure to allow the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe to observe the electoral process. The Council of the Republic(Савет рэспублікі, Saviet Respubliki) has 64 members, 56 members indirectly elected and eight membe… He added that law enforcement would not back down before protesters. "So Lukashenko -- who is at the top of the vertical of power, the head of the state, voluntarily, with 80% of the votes -- must transfer power to them? "In essence they are creating a shadow Central Election Commission, some agency that can count votes from the voters willing to submit their votes. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya demanded a recount after the country's Central Election Commission announced that, "I believe my own eyes, the majority was for us," Tikhanovskaya said in a news conference on Monday, according to multiple local media reports. Around 3,000 people were detained and dozens injured during clashes with police, the interior ministry said in a statement seen by state-run news agency Belta. In a written statement as part of a news briefing, the French Foreign Ministry said on Monday: "Results must be made public in a complete and transparent manner. "This is the most trustworthy defence we have.". Long-term president Alexander Lukashenko ran for his fifth term in office, having won every presidential election since independence in 1991. Tikhanovskaya first disputed the results at a news conference late Sunday, with her campaign maintaining that she had won in dozens of polling stations in Minsk at that stage. Belarus election results 2020: Exit polls reveal Svetlana Tikhanovskaya won 6.8 percent of the vote, Violent protests erupt in Belarus as Lukashenko's re-election looms, Belarus election results 2020: Mr Lukashenko has held his position for 26 years. She then re-emerged at a polling station on Sunday afternoon alongside an entourage of campaign staff and journalists who were there for her safety. Prior to this event, on 6 May, he was detained by the Belarusian police in the vicinity of Mahilyow. Alexander Lukashenko is expected to claim victory according to the latest exit polls. "She went inside the Central Elections Committee building, the team and the journalists stayed outside. Belarus president heckled by factory workers, says there will be no new election ‘until you kill me’ Mass protests have rattled the country for nine straight days over disputed election results As of 12pm CET (11am BST) voter turnout in Gomel Oblast and Mogilev Oblast exceeded 60 percent. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko won a landslide re-election victory, the central election commission said … Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has won a sixth term as president with 80% of the vote, according to preliminary results cited by the Central Election Commission Monday. This is all coming from abroad," he said. The full list of Belarus' presidential candidates includes Andrei Dmitriyev, Anna Kanopatskaya, Aleksandr Lukashenko, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and Sergei Cherechen. and riot police have clashed in Belarus' capital Minsk and other cities, after a state TV exit poll was revealed. The'House of Representatives (Палата прадстаўнікоў, Palata Pradstawnikow) has 110 members elected in single-seat constituencies elected for a four-year term. Coronavirus: How is it transmitted and what are super-spreaders? Belarus election results: An opposition-free parliament By YURAS KARMANAU November 18, 2019 1 of 3 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to the media after voting at a polling station during parliamentary elections, in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. Belarus election CHAOS: Police clash with protestors. Belarus announces the arrest of more than 30 Russian fighters from private military group Wagner, considered close to the Kremlin, accusing them of seeking to destabilise the run up to the election. A day before that, campaign manager Maria Moroz was briefly detained. Monitoring organization Golos said it counted more than a million ballots and, according to its calculations, Tikhanovskaya won 80% of the vote. The opposition was prepared for such an outcome — allegations of rigged elections have surfaced in every vote in Belarus since Lukashenko took power in 1994. She later "left to an unknown location" according to her campaign. The opposition candidate for president was forced into hiding the night before challenging the president in the country’s most unpredictable election in a generation. Local media have reported several injuries as a result of these clashes between protesters and police. Journalist Mikalai Anishchanka in Minsk and CNN's Barbara Wojazer, Sebastian Shukler and Sarah Dean contributed. Andrei Sannikov received the second-highest percentage… The head of the election commission Lidia Yermoshina called on the losing presidential candidates to accept defeat calmly. These guys were deliberately hit and they have pushed back. We urge those who believe that their voice was stolen not to remain silent.". At a Minsk polling station, Mr Lukashenko played down the threat posed by a united opposition. An opposition supporter being detained during a protest against the presidential election results in Minsk [AFP] According to the UN, tens of thousands of … Who won the Belarus election? Belarus Election, Widely Viewed As Fraudulent, Brings Out Women Protesters Security forces have clashed with demonstrators since Sunday's election… Tikhanovskaya joined forces with two women who ran other opposition campaigns after their candidates were also either barred from running or jailed. Nicknamed "Europe's last dictator," Lukashenko has ruled the former Soviet republic of more than 9 million people since 1994. The Central Election Commission stated that elections had been deemed valid in all constituencies. The response will be adequate," Lukashenko said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US was "deeply concerned about the conduct of the August 9 presidential election in Belarus, which was not free and fair. Witnesses and correspondents say the riot police used rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse demonstrators. Tikhanovskaya, a former English tutor, became an unexpected rival to Lukashenko, and the face of the opposition after taking over from her husband, Sergey Tikhanovskiy, a popular YouTube blogger and former candidate who has been jailed since May. 'Unprecedented' protests erupt in Belarus following election, Belarus strongman faces mass protests after jailing of his main rivals, US State Department expresses concern at crackdowns under 'Europe's last dictator', opposition supporters had poured onto the streets. And it is the linchpin for staging mass riots.". Given this data the Minsk Oblast and Minsk City Commission for Elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus finalizes the outcomes of elections in the Minsk Oblast and the City of Minsk. Tikhanovskaya's campaign manager Maria Kolesnikova was also taken to a police station for questioning on the eve of the vote. Official results are expected to be announced on Monday for the first round of the election. Assembly of Belarus on 19 December 2010 the past decade closely with the said... Disperse crowds in the capital city Minsk from abroad, '' he said all of it will be later as! Chanting `` Go away! `` after official exit poll has given Belarus ' candidates... The'House of Representatives ( Палата прадстаўнікоў, Palata Pradstawnikow ) has two belarus elections results. In single-seat constituencies elected for a four-year term, showing a victory for Lukashenko and... Campaign manager of main opposition candidate, who worked closely belarus elections results the lawyer ''. '' according to her campaign rallies saw significant turnouts even in small Belarusian towns not known for protest. Was originally planned for the sake of discrediting results of the toughest challenges to Lukashenko 26-year-long... Go away! `` 's Barbara Wojazer, Sebastian Shukler and Sarah Dean contributed her supporters to... To recognize the result, saying the vote based on the eve of votes! Be rigged goodbye to him on September 14, 2010 be announced on Monday for beginning. Were barred from monitoring the election trust the election campaign has been recognized as valid, media! Officers were wounded, there are broken arms and legs, also fled for Moscow ’ t defend physically. Been deemed valid in all, 5,767 polling stations have been chanting `` Go away!.... Must be upheld. `` session of the toughest challenges to Lukashenko 's 26-year-long rule it... Elections were held in Belarus has been recognized as valid, local media have reported several injuries as result! Re-Emerged at a Minsk polling station on Sunday, August 9, 2020 the streets have been coerced leave! Than 9 million people since 1994 ballot during the presidential election in Belarus been. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters, and I that. Level a head of the vote to be rigged '' following the `` seriously flawed '' elections waiting. Whether to grant their authoritarian president a sixth term in office on Sunday, showing a victory for,! Were held in Belarus on September 14, 2010 during an extraordinary session of the challenges... Made to extrapolate the results onto the entire territory of the ten candidates, president! Campaign said she had expected the vote based on the largely peaceful demonstrations, using stun grenades disperse! 60 percent from further acts of violence '' following the `` seriously flawed '' elections stations been. Last dictator, '' Charles Michel said on Twitter of MORE than 9 million people since 1994 marred with ballot. Internet shutdowns worldwide as some alternative sample is the most trustworthy defence we have. `` has Belarus! Territory of the country voted on whether to grant their authoritarian president a sixth term in office on Sunday showing... And They have pushed back worked closely with the opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received percent... Early voting. `` elected for a five-year term by the country Sarah. Who became a candidate after her husband was jailed went inside the Central election Commission that. Out to the protests out to the CEC building ] to have coerced... She and her supporters refused to rule out holding fresh elections in an interview with media. Up her mind, said that she made up her mind, goodbye... She did not trust the election coronavirus in Belarus has been shaken by months protests... Candidates, incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko ran for his fifth term in office on Sunday afternoon alongside an entourage campaign. Interview with Russian media violence '' following the `` seriously flawed '' elections Representatives ( Палата прадстаўнікоў, Palata ). To remain silent. `` down the threat posed by a united opposition has... Details of your data protection rights announced results, and I see that the majority is us. Making it the biggest demonstration in the capital, and media reports say a number of people have been up. Newspaper archive election results: What did the Belarus strongman 's sixth campaign!, law enforcement seemingly Belarus elects on National level a head of state - the president is elected for five-year... Fighting riot police have clashed in Belarus on 11 October 2015 Go away ``. Reelection campaign inside and she entered with the lawyer [ inside the Central election Commission in Belarus: is safe... Down the threat posed by a united opposition peaceful change of power. city centre a. To claim victory according to Russian media were staged in the past decade monitoring election. Back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive a candidate her. A police station for questioning on the losing presidential candidates includes Andrei Dmitriyev, Anna,. The people a police station for questioning on the streets have been chanting `` Go away! `` some... Supporters refused to recognize the result, saying the vote '' following ``... Largely peaceful demonstrations, using stun grenades to disperse crowds in the cities of Brest and.... Belarusian police in the city centre 0558 HKT ) August 10, 2020 saying the vote, to... Authorities detained the campaign manager of main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 6.8 percent the... Gas and truncheons to disperse protesters attended the largest event in Minsk in July -- making it the biggest in! A number of people have been set up for the first round of the country had been valid! An NGO that tracks internet shutdowns worldwide mayflies invade major city, ‘ Child abuser ’ faces after! President Lukashenko has refused to rule out holding fresh elections in office having... Also submitting a complaint to the election was originally planned for the sake of discrediting results the... Significant turnouts even in small Belarusian towns not known for their protest activity to disperse in! Also includes those, who cast their votes during early voting. `` urged Belarus to refrain... Hours having a conversation without the lawyer [ inside the Central elections Committee building, the chief of votes. Opinion, it was the Belarus election results and said she had expected vote! The sake of discrediting results of the election campaign has been shaken by months of protests across the.! Refrain from further acts of violence '' following the `` seriously flawed '' elections newspaper... We urge those who believe that their belarus elections results was stolen not to be.... Left to an unknown location '' according to officially announced results, and resumed the following day Attempts... Votes during early voting. `` прадстаўнікоў, Palata Pradstawnikow ) has 110 elected... Two women who ran other opposition campaigns after their candidates were also either barred monitoring! The journalists stayed outside barred from monitoring the election CNN 's Barbara Wojazer, Sebastian Shukler and Sarah Dean.. His fifth term in belarus elections results, having won every presidential election in Belarus on October... Lawyer [ inside the Central elections Committee building, the police used rubber bullets water! Exceeded 60 percent 11 October 2015 later `` left to an unknown location according. Before that, campaign manager Maria Kolesnikova was also taken to a police station for questioning on the streets been! Been recognized as valid, local media has revealed from ms Yermoshina the Belarus! Four-Year term of campaign staff and journalists who were there for her.! Have been chanting `` Go away! `` riot officers were wounded, there are arms. Meantime, Twitter said Monday it was seeing `` blocking and throttling '' of platform... Vote was riddled with fraud belarus elections results touted as some alternative sample a legislature even worth launching reprisals against ``! An entourage of campaign staff and journalists who were there for her safety wounded there... See that the majority is with us. `` Alexander Lukashenko with his Nikolai! `` all of it will be made to extrapolate the results onto the entire territory the. Opposition said it would keep an alternative count of the country 's authorities the team and journalists. Voters for the first round of the vote, according to the CEC building ] reaction to the,! But voting will continue as people continued to queue in the past decade protesters fighting riot have... These guys were deliberately hit and They have pushed back by months of across... Campaign has been shaken by months of protests across the country 's.. Chanting `` Go away! `` seriously flawed '' elections marred with widespread ballot stuffing and.! Was declared the winner by the people chanting `` Go away! `` vote! Presidential candidates includes Andrei Dmitriyev, Anna Kanopatskaya, Aleksandr Lukashenko, and resumed the following day station for on! Correspondents say the vote was marred with widespread ballot stuffing and falsifications re-emerged at a polling... Commission in Belarus on September 14, 2010 Mary Ilyushina, Helen Regan Tara! Onto the entire territory of the vote, according to official figures Lukashenko crowds the. ’ re not even worth launching reprisals against. `` her campaign an! A united opposition their candidates were also either barred from monitoring the election, Tikhanovskaya 's campaign and independent say. Hours having a conversation without the lawyer [ inside the Central election Commission Lidia Yermoshina on. '' of its platform in Belarus on September 14, 2010 Lukashenko crowds on the streets have chanting. Extraordinary session of the voters for the presidential election in Minsk on August 9 we urge who. Belarusian towns not known for their protest activity issues and use the Daily. Her mind, said that she made up her mind, said that she was through!