Belarus election panel claims Lukashenko far ahead in vote
(World News USA)

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Even before polling stations in Belarus had fully closed, the head of the country`s election commission declared Sunday that fragmentary results showed authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko far ahead in his bid for a sixth consecutive term. The announcement by Lidia Yermoshina that Lukashenko had racked up 82% support in voting at hospitals and sanatoria in five regions was likely to exacerbate tensions with opposition supporters upset about the country`s deteriorating economy, political repression and Lukashenko`s cavalier brushoff of the coronavirus threat. The presidential election pitted Lukashenko, who has held an iron grip on the ex-Soviet nation since...