Early election held 'for Lukashenko': Presidential elections begin in Belarus

Voting has begun in the presidential elections held in Belarus today. The voting process, which started at 08:00 local time for the presidential election, will end when the polls close at 20:00. According to the 'claim' of the Central Election Commission, approximately 42 percent of voters cast their ballots during early voting.

The elections are being monitored by approximately 500 international observers from member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

According to data from the Central Election Commission, 6 million 900 thousand 504 registered voters will cast their ballots at 5 thousand 325 polling stations.

From Turkey, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Election Council Ekrem Özübek and YSK member Celal Albay are following the elections as observers.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko

LUKASHENKO BECAME A CANDIDATE THANKS TO THE EARLY ELECTION DECISION

The decision to hold elections was made because the term of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko was set to expire in August. Thanks to this decision, Lukashenko was able to run for the presidency of Belarus once again.

Polls were opened from January 21-25 for those who would be unable to go to the ballot box on election day to cast their 'early votes'. According to the Central Election Commission, 41.81 percent of voters cast their ballots on these dates.

Competing in the election are President Alexander Lukashenko, Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus leader Oleg Gaidukevich, Republican Party of Labor and Justice leader Alexander Khizhnyak, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus Sergey Syrankov, and independent candidate and businesswoman Anna Kanopatskaya.