News / Europe

Lukashenko Warns Opposition Not to March Against Parliamentary Vote

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko with his youngest son Nikolai casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko with his youngest son Nikolai casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012.
x
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko with his youngest son Nikolai casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko with his youngest son Nikolai casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012.
TEXT SIZE - +
VOA News
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is warning the opposition not to march against Sunday's parliamentary elections, which opponents call a sham.

Lukashenko called the opposition "cowards" who have nothing to say to the people. He said the world should admire what he called the "boring" elections in Belarus that he said are carried out with no revolutions or upheaval.

The government violently cracked down on a pro-democracy march in Minsk after the 2010 presidential election, which Mr. Lukashenko won in a landslide. A number of opposition candidates were jailed.

Authorities barred nearly every opposition candidate from Sunday's election. Opposition parties encouraged people to go pick mushrooms or stay home and make soup instead of casting a ballot.

Election officials say voter turnout Sunday was 66 percent. But witnesses and monitors say they saw just a trickle of voters at many polling places.

The United States has called Lukashenko Europe's last dictator for suppressing free speech and human rights, stifling the opposition and rigging elections.

Sunday's election will fill 110 seats in parliament. Results are expected Monday.

The United States and the European Union have imposed economic and travel sanctions on the Belarusian government for its crackdown on opposition groups.

 

You May Like

Experts Weigh In on Challenges of Closing Guantanamo Prison

Former chief military prosecutor at Guantanamo delivers petition to White House with more than 370,000 signatures, demanding facility be closed down immediately More

Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India

Afghanistan looking for more military aid as it prepares for withdrawal of NATO forces by next year More

India, China Pledge to Overcome Border Tensions

Indian prime minister and Chinese premier attempt to move past tense standoff in the Himalayas during Delhi talks More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video US Oil Surge Could Impact Mideast Geopolitics

The United States will account for a third of new oil supplies over the next five years, and will become energy self-sufficient in 20 years, according to a new report by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). Although U.S. oil imports from Arab Gulf countries increased last year, analysts predict the U.S. will lose its dependence on Middle East imports, which is expected to have a huge impact on international relations and the balance of power. VOA's Henry Ridgewell reports.