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Long Lines And Military Vehicles: Belarusians Go To Vote

Belarusian voters went to the polls to vote in the country's presidential election on August 9. Incumbent President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has ruled the country since 1994 and won five elections, won almost 80 percent of the vote, according to an official exit poll released soon after polls closed.

Potential opposition candidates weren't allowed to participate, like jailed blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski, whose wife, Svyatlana, stood in for him in the election. It was the first nationwide vote to take place without OSCE monitors in Belarus since 2001.
Presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya votes in Minsk.
1 Presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya votes in Minsk.
Tsikhanouskaya is standing in for her husband, Syarhey, who could not run because he has been jailed.
2 Tsikhanouskaya is standing in for her husband, Syarhey, who could not run because he has been jailed.
People fill in their ballots at a polling station in Minsk.
3 People fill in their ballots at a polling station in Minsk.
People stand in line outside a polling station in Borovlyany to cast their votes.
4 People stand in line outside a polling station in Borovlyany to cast their votes.
A long line of voters formed outside the Belarusian Embassy in Prague.
5 A long line of voters formed outside the Belarusian Embassy in Prague.
Significant numbers of soldiers and military vehicles have taken up positions around Minsk.
6 Significant numbers of soldiers and military vehicles have taken up positions around Minsk.
President Lukashenka casts his ballot in Minsk.
7 President Lukashenka casts his ballot in Minsk.
A family enters the polling station at School No. 41 in Minsk.
8 A family enters the polling station at School No. 41 in Minsk.
Voters show signs used by the opposition at School 41 in Minsk.
9 Voters show signs used by the opposition at School 41 in Minsk.
Rugs around the ballot box are cleaned at a polling station in Minsk.
10 Rugs around the ballot box are cleaned at a polling station in Minsk.
Voters cast ballots at School No. 41 in Minsk.
11 Voters cast ballots at School No. 41 in Minsk.
12
A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Minsk.
13 A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Minsk.
A family casts their ballots at the polling station at School No. 41 in Minsk.
14 A family casts their ballots at the polling station at School No. 41 in Minsk.
15
A woman casts her ballot in Minsk.
16 A woman casts her ballot in Minsk.
A ballot box is transported on the main day of voting.
17 A ballot box is transported on the main day of voting.
A Belarusian serviceman collects his ballot at a polling station.
18 A Belarusian serviceman collects his ballot at a polling station.
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