Putin Hails Lukashenko’s “Solid” 7th Victory As Belarus President, West Slams “Sham” Election

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has been declared the winner of presidential election, according to the country’s electoral body. Lukashenko, who faced no serious challenge from the four other candidates, took 86.8% of the vote, according to initial results. The Belarusian leader has won every presidential election since 1994 with the latest victory being his seventh straight. European politicians said the vote was neither free nor fair because independent media are banned in the former Soviet republic. As long as Belarus is under Lukashenko and Putin’s control, there will be a constant threat to the peace and security of the entire region,” Belarus’s opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya said. “The people of Belarus had no choice. It is a bitter day for all those who long for freedom & democracy,” the German foreign minister said. EU has threatened Belarus with a fresh raft of sanctions against the regime while supporting civic society and the exiled opposition. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION1:45 WEST SLAMS “SHAM ELECTION”3:22 ‘DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT WEST’4:10 PUTIN HAILS LUKASHENKO’S “SOLID VICTORY”