Belarusian Election A 'Farce,' Observers Say

MINSK, Belarus -- Balloting that saw Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected in a landslide victory Sunday did not meet international standards of a free and fair vote, European observers said Monday.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a news conference in Minsk. Lukashenko said triumphantly on Monday his re-election showed efforts to stage a pro-West revolt in Belarus had failed, but independent observers criticised the poll as neither free nor fair.
The Council of Europe called the election a "farce" and the European Union said it was likely to impose financial and diplomatic sanctions in response.

Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe also denounced the vote, citing widespread detentions and intimidation.

Neighbouring Russia, however, said the results "must be viewed with respect."

Official figures released Sunday show Lukashenko received 82.6 per cent of the vote, compared to six per cent for his nearest challenger, Alexander Milinkevich.

Milinkevich described the results as "monstrously inflated," and called on protesters to gather in Minsk on Monday evening.

On Sunday, he told 10,000 supporters gathered in Minsk's Oktyabrskaya Square that "we did not have an election but an unconstitutional seizure of power."

The protesters raised their fists, waving the red-and-white Belarusian flag that had been abolished by Lukashenko.

"We demand new, honest elections," Milinkevich told the crowd. "This was a complete farce."

Milinkevich called on his supporters to return to the square Monday evening to continue their protest.

"Tomorrow we will show the world our might," said Alexander Kozulin, another opposition candidate.

The reaction raises the possibility that the Belarus government could be destabilized in the same manner as in two other former Soviet states, Ukraine and Georgia.

In those countries, sustained protests over controversial election results eventually brought opposition leaders to power.

Lukashenko, who has led the country since 1994, had been widely expected to win in the election. He enjoys support among voters in rural farm areas, who fear economic hardship if the Soviet-style economy is changed.

However, Lukashenko also faced sharp criticism from abroad after he had banned election-day meetings and threatened to crush street demonstrations and treat protesters like terrorists.

The United States and European Union warned that new sanctions could be imposed against Belarus if the election was considered unfair.

Source: AP