Opposition Disputes Validity of Elections

Opposition leaders in Belarus challenged the validity of parliamentary elections, contesting the government’s turnout claims. With opposition candidates largely excluded from the ballot, turnout Sunday became a key indicator of support for authoritarian President Alexander G. Lukashenko’s government. Opposition parties had called on voters to boycott the election. Turnout must exceed 50% to be valid. The government said turnout was 60.6%; the opposition put it at about 45%. The U.S. said it agreed with its European allies that the election was not fair.