LIDA, Belarus — Belarus will not let any other country meddle in its December presidential election, incumbent Alexander Lukashenko said Saturday, a day after announcing he would seek a new five-year term.
“There will be no external interference in the situation in our country,” said Lukashenko, in power since 1994. “Neither from Russia, as some would have us fear, nor from the West, nor America.”
Analysts say Lukashenko is likely to win the election on Dec. 19 easily. But Russian media have speculated in recent weeks that the Kremlin might try to back one of his 14 rivals for the job.
(Reuters)
