MELBOURNE, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko extended his 31-year rule with a massive win in a presidential election that Western governments have rejected as a sham, according to preliminary results on Monday. "You can congratulate the Republic of Belarus, we have elected a president," the head of the country's Central Election Commission of the Republic Igor Karpenko told a press conference in the early hours of Monday, according to Russian state media.

This audio is created with AI assistance Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko appeared set to win a seventh term in office on Jan. 26 in an election widely dismissed by the West and opposition groups as a sham. Lukashenko has reportedly secured 86.82% of the vote, according to preliminary results announced by the country’s Central Election Commission on Monday. The 70-year-old leader, who has ruled since 1994, faced no real competition, as key opposition figures are either imprisoned or living in exile following years of political repression. Lukashenko's 2020 re-election, widely...

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, nicknamed "Europe's last dictator," is projected to secure victory in Sunday's election, securing a seventh term and extending his rule beyond three decades. Newsweek reached out by email on Sunday morning to the White House, Russian foreign ministry and Belarusian foreign ministry for comment. Lukashenko has proven to be one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's most vital allies.