Belarus officially declares Lukashenko winner of presidential vote
16:14 24/12/2010
MINSK, December 24 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus' Central Election Commission officially announced on Friday that President Alexander Lukashenko won the December 19 presidential election.
According to the final results of the polls, Lukashenko gained 79.65% of the vote, while his closest challenger Andrei Sannikov received 2.43%, commission secretary Nikolai Lozovik said.
"The elections are recognized as valid. Alexander Lukashenko is elected president of Belarus," the commission said in a statement.
The official inauguration ceremony could be held on January 14, said Lidya Yermoshina, who heads the Central Election Commission. She said the date has yet to be confirmed by the president's administration.
Lukashenko, 56, has ruled Belarus with an iron rod since 1994 and has been dubbed by the United States "Europe's last dictator" for a clampdown on opposition and dissent. International monitors said the election was "flawed."
More than 600 people were detained in the Belarusian capital during a police crackdown on demonstrators after the presidential vote that the opposition said had been rigged.
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