Belarus

New Date Set For Belarusian President's Inauguration

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka (file photo) (epa) April 3, 2006 -- The president of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, is to be sworn in on April 8 following his controversial victory in a presidential election on March 19. It will be his third term in office.

Lukashenka was due to have been sworn in on March 31, but postponed the ceremony for undisclosed reasons.


The Belarusian opposition claims the ballot was rigged, a charge supported by the European Union (EU) and the United States, which have imposed sanctions on Belarus.


According to the official results, 83 percent voted for Lukashenka and just 6.1 percent for his nearest rival, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, who has accused Lukashenka of an "unconstitutional grab for power."


Milinkevich, who is demanding new elections in which Lukashenka will not be allowed to stand, is currently visiting Vienna for talks with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.


Austria currently holds the rotating EU presidency.


Milinkevich is hoping to use his trip to persuade the EU to put more pressure on the Lukashenka government.


(Reuters, AFP)

Election Day In Images

Election Day In Images

Click on the image to view a photo gallery of election-day events in Belarus.


THE BELARUS ELECTION: To view a complete archive of RFE/RL's coverage of the March 19 presidential election, click here.

To read and listen to RFE/RL's Belarus Service's coverage of the vote in Belarusian, click here.