Belarus Votes Amid Apathy And Growing Pressure From Russia
(World News Russia)

MINSK -- Voters in Belarus go to the polls on November 17 in parliamentary elections with little question that candidates loyal to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka will dominate despite many opposition members being on the ballot. The elections to the largely rubber-stamp parliament come with Belarus at a crossroads. Moscow is pressing Minsk on closer military and economy cooperation, prompting Lukashenka to court closer ties with the EU, United States, and China. The Belarusian leader, who has ruled the Eastern European country of some 9.5 million for 25 years, will face a presidential election in 2020 amid questions over how much longer his authoritarian rule can last. All 110 seats in the...