Lukashenko to Win Re-Election in Belarus, Exit Poll Indicates

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko headed for a landslide victory in today’s national election, an exit poll said, as riot police attacked opponents protesting what they claimed was massive vote rigging.

An exit poll by EcooM, a Minsk-based research company, showed 79.1 percent of votes for Lukashenko, Interfax reported. More than 84 percent of voters, almost 6 million people, had cast their ballots as of 6 p.m. local time, the Central Election Commission said on its website. Polling stations closed at 8 p.m., with preliminary results likely early tomorrow.