7 million voters across Belarus are participating in the country's fifth presidential election since it gained independence from the former Soviet union in 1991. Presidential candidates include current President Alexander Lukashenko, and three others, including Tatyana Korotkevich, Nikolai Ulakhovich, and Sergei Gaidukevich.
But Lukashenko faces no serious competition, and is expected to easily win a fifth term. opposition figures have called for a boycott of the election. The results of the election will be announced no later than 10 days after the vote is finished.
Officials say about 36 percent of the electorate has already voted in early balloting. European sources say the EU will possibly lift sanctions against Lukashenko, if the polls take place without incident.
