"Belarusians Navigate Tightly Controlled Election Amid Opposition Boycott Calls"

Belarus holds tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections, with President Lukashenko accusing the West of trying to undermine his government. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged voters to boycott the elections, dismissing them as a "senseless farce." The election takes place amid a relentless crackdown on dissent, with over 1,400 political prisoners behind bars. Observers noted that the vote is undemocratic, and the OSCE was not allowed to monitor the election. Lukashenko announced that he will run for the presidency again next year.