Belarus Presidential Election Voting Begins

Voting is underway in Belarus as over 5,300 polling stations open for the presidential election, with five candidates, including incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, competing for the country’s top office.

According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), approximately 6.9 million Belarusians are eligible to vote. Among the 5,325 polling stations, 207 are set up in hospitals and public facilities, while 12 are located in military units. Polls will close at 8 p.m. local time (5 p.m. GMT).

The election will be considered valid if more than 50% of eligible voters cast their ballots. Early voting, held from January 21 to 25, saw 41.81% voter participation. To secure victory, a candidate must receive over half of the total votes cast.

The election is being closely monitored by over 44,000 domestic observers and nearly 500 international observers.

Alongside Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, other candidates include:
– Oleg Gaidukevich – the Head of Liberal Democratic Party
– Anna Kanopatskaya – Entrepreneur and former lawmaker
– Sergey Syrankov – First Secretary of the Communist Party’s Central Committee
– Alexander Khizhnyak – Head of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice

The results of the election are expected to shape Belarus’ political future, amid growing international scrutiny and domestic challenges.