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Belarusians cast ballots in presidential poll

Sunday, 11 October 2015 6:20 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 11 October 2015 7:06 AM ]

A local resident casts her ballot during presidential election at a polling station in Minsk, Belarus, October 11, 2015. ©Reuters

People in Belarus have started voting in the country’s presidential election, while incumbent Alexander Lukashenko is reportedly expected to win a fifth term in office.

Polling stations opened at 08:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Sunday and will close at 08:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT).

Sunday election is monitored by international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Approximately, seven million Belarusians are eligible to take part in the poll.

Lukashenko will compete with three other presidential candidates, namely Sergei Gaidukevich, the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, Tatiana Korotkevich, the representative of the Tell the Truth civic campaign, and Nikolay Ulakhovich, chairman of the Belarusian Patriotic Party.

Lukashenko, 61, has led the Eastern European country since 1994, making him the continent’s longest-serving leader.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ©Reuters

According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies last month, more than 45 percent of Belarusian voters are ready to vote for Lukashenko.

Lukashenko’s re-election in 2010 led to mass protests and the imprisonment of some opposition figures.

The European Union has imposed sanctions on some Belarusian officials and companies over the government’s alleged clampdown on political dissent.

However, European sources told AFP that the 28-nation bloc is ready to suspend sanctions against Lukashenko after the recent release of the country’s last political prisoners.