Presidential "elections" have begun in Belarus. Lithuania strengthens border security

On January 26, the so-called presidential elections are taking place in Belarus. Five candidates, including the current president , Alexander Lukashenko, are running in the race.

According to Censor.NET, this was reported by the Belta newspaper.

It is known that a total of 5325 polling stations were set up. They were opened at 8:00 a.m. local time and will be open until 20:00.

The ballot contains information about five candidates: self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko, the head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Oleg Gaidukevich, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Sergei Syrankov, an individual entrepreneur, Anna Kanapatskaya, and the head of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice, Alexander Khizhnyak.

It is possible to vote only in Belarus; polling stations abroad are closed this time - in 2020, independent candidate Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya won the election.

From January 21 to 25, Belarus held early voting, in which 41.81% of citizens on the voter lists voted.

It is possible to vote without a passport. If a citizen has lost his or her passport, the internal affairs authorities issue appropriate certificates confirming his or her identity. Young people can vote with a student ID card.

Lukashenko himself is running for re-election for the seventh consecutive term, having ruled Belarus since 1994. This election will allow him to remain in office until at least 2030.

According to the Lithuanian media outlet LRT, Lithuanian border guards have stepped up border security.

The representative of the State Border Guard Service, Gedrius Mishutis, noted that the ability to respond to incidents, if they occur, is increasing. In particular, additional forces and means will be deployed.

"Against the backdrop of the Belarusian elections, the level of vigilance is increasing. It is envisaged that in the event of incidents, other agencies may be involved - the national defense system, the Public Security Service, the police, the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union," Mishutis said.

As a reminder, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has no legitimacy and the result of the elections in the country will be fictitious.