Lukashenko’s re-election as Belarusian president indicates his high political authority - Putin

MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir has sent a telegram to Alexander Lukashenko congratulating him on his re-election of the Belarusian president, the Kremlin press service said on Monday. In the telegram, Putin stressed that "Lukashenko’s decisive victory at the election indicates his high political authority and trust from the population, as well as active support of the course the country is taking toward further social-economic development." The Russian president expressed hope that Lukashenko’s actions as the head of state will contribute to development of Russian-Belarusian strategic partnership, strengthening the Union State, boosting cooperation in the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other international structures. Putin also confirmed his intentions to continues constructive joint work for the benefit of "the fraternal peoples of the two countries." Belarusian presidential election Central Election Commission chief Lidiya Yermoshina said earlier on Monday that incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko is winning the Belarusian presidential elections with 83.49 percent of the vote. The voter turnout was 87.2 percent. Thus, following the elections, 61-year-old Lukashenko will take the post of the Belarusian president for the fifth time. After the official results of the elections are approved, the Belarusian government resigns and the head of state accepts the resignation, and then appoints a new government. Inauguration of the Belarusian president elect will take place not later than December 11, 2015, Yermoshina told TASS. Read more