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No surprise: Lukashenko wins Belarus presidential race

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is seen on a large screen, speaking to media at a polling station after voting during presidential elections in Minsk, Belarus, late Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015. President Alexander Lukashenko was expected to win a fifth term in Sunday's election with ease, but he said anything much less than 80 percent of the vote would be a sign that his support was slipping. The authoritarian leader faced no serious competition in the election, which was boycotted by the opposition. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is seen on a large screen, speaking to media at a polling station after voting during presidential elections in Minsk, Belarus, late Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015. President Alexander Lukashenko was expected to win a fifth term in Sunday's election with ease, but he said anything much less than 80 percent of the vote would be a sign that his support was slipping. The authoritarian leader faced no serious competition in the election, which was boycotted by the opposition. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

By Associated Press October 12, 2015 1 min read

MINSK, Belarus (AP) – Officials in Belarus say that President Alexander Lukashenko has been re-elected for a fifth term.

Lidia Yermoshina, chairwoman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission, said Monday that Lukashenko garnered 83.5 percent in Sunday’s vote. His closest contender trailed behind with less than 5 percent.

Yermoshina said all the ballots have been counted inside the country while the ballots cast at embassies abroad have yet to be counted.

The authoritarian leader of 21 years faced no serious competition in the election, which was boycotted by the opposition.