(VOVWORLD) - Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko extended his 31-year rule on Monday after electoral officials declared him the winner of the presidential election of Belarus.
Lukashenko took 86.8% of the vote, according to initial results published on the Central Election Commission's official Telegram account.
Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been in power since 1994, becoming Europe’s longest-serving leader.
Officials said turnout was 85.7% in the election, in which 6.9 million people were eligible to vote.