"Belarusians Navigate Tightly Controlled Election Amid Opposition Boycott Calls"

Belarusians are voting in tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections, with President Alexander Lukashenko's rule expected to be further solidified despite opposition calls for a boycott. The opposition, led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has dismissed the elections as a "senseless farce" and urged voters to boycott. The government has cracked down on dissent, with over 1,400 political prisoners behind bars and widespread manipulation of the vote alleged. The election takes place amid a relentless crackdown on dissent, and international observers have been barred from monitoring the election.