Intl observers: Belarusian presidential vote short of its democratic commitments

In particular, official data show a record level of voters, 36 percent, came to polls during a five-day period of early voting, which started October 6.

Another prominent opposition figure, Vladimir Neklyaev, said: “We do not consider the spectacle performed by the Belarusian authorities to be an election and do not recognise it”.

The veteran leader ran against three virtual unknowns – only one of whom campaigned, and state media giving Lukashenko uniformly positive coverage.

The EU is preparing to suspend sanctions, including financial penalties and visa bans, this month if the election passes muster, European officials have said. Opposition leaders failed to register a candidate, while Mikolai Statkevich, a dissident jailed after running against him in 2010, was released from prison a day after the deadline passed in August.

Belarusian journalist Svetlana Alexievich-a prominent critic of Lukashenko’s regime who was last week announced as victor of the 2015 Nobel Prize for literature-questioned the legitimacy of the electoral process.

The vote count began, once the polls were closed.

“He’s a strong leader, and we can’t let anything like Maidan happen here”, said Igor Demidovich, 63, a pensioner, referring to the mass protest movement in the Ukrainian capital a year ago that overthrew a Kremlin-favored government.

Belarus, a nation of 10 million in central Europe, is heavily dependent on Russia’s cheap energy supplies but is trying to distance itself from Moscow after Russian Federation annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula previous year and backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Voters overwhelmingly elected Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to a fifth term in office.

Lukashenko has been in power since 1994, making him the longest-standing leader in all of Europe.

The president was accompanied to the polling station by his youngest son, Nikolai, who has accompanied his father on numerous public occasions in recent years. He is also the leader of the Belarusian Cossacks.

Mr Lukashenko has largely preserved the state-controlled Soviet type of economy, albeit with the help of cheap Russian gas and Western loans. “Our system is established”.

She later told Nasha Niva, an independent newspaper: “I saw a very exhausted, frightened man. He looked disappointed and offended”.

“He does not bend to anyone’s will, he protects the interests of his people”, said retired university teacher Valentina Artyomovna as she bought pastries at a buffet at her polling station.

“Oh, life has become harder, but Lukashenko promises stability and peace”, said 68-year-old Tamara Krylovich after voting in Minsk. “I feel surprised and, to a few extent, angry and annoyed by that”, he said.