Belarusians vote in tightly controlled election amid opposition calls for its boycott
Belarusians will cast ballots Sunday in tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections that are set to cement an authoritarian leader’s rule amid opposition calls for a boycott
By YURAS KARMANAU
Published - Feb 24, 2024, 11:10 PM ET
Last Updated - Feb 24, 2024, 11:10 PM EST
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusians will cast ballots Sunday in tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections that are set to cement the steely rule of the country's authoritarian leader, despite calls for a boycott from the opposition that dismissed the balloting as a “senseless farce.”
President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for nearly 30 years, accuses the West of trying to use the vote to undermine his government and “destabilize” the nation of 9.5 million people.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in neighboring Lithuania after challenging Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, urged voters to boycott the elections.
