see url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53721410
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Quote<<<
The main challenger to Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko has refused to
accept the autocratic president won 80% of the vote in Sunday's election.
"I consider myself the winner of this election," Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
said on Monday.
This follows thousands of arrests after protesters and riot police
clashed in the capital Minsk and other cities.
A lack of scrutiny - no observers were present - has led to widespread
fears of vote-rigging in the poll.
The election was held amid growing frustration at Mr Lukashenko's
leadership, with opposition rallies attracting large crowds. The
preceding days saw a crackdown on activists and journalists.
The president has described opposition supporters as "sheep" controlled
from abroad, and vowed not to allow the country to be torn apart.
How protests shook up Belarus presidential election
Europe's longest serving ruler facing unfamiliar pressure
Mr Lukashenko won 80.23% of the vote, according to a preliminary count,
with Ms Tikhanovskaya receiving 9.9%.
Ms Tikhanovskaya entered the election in place of her jailed husband and
went on to lead large opposition rallies.
Mr Lukashenko, 65, has been in power since 1994.
What did Ms Tikhanovskaya say?
The opposition candidate said that the election results published on
Monday morning "completely contradict common sense" and the authorities
should think about how to peacefully hand over power.
"We have seen that the authorities are trying to hold on to their
positions by force," she said.
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