Dictator confirmed rigging presidential elections

Alyaksandr Lukashenka said the results of the presidential elections 2006 were rigged.

The Belarusian ruler told in an interview published in “Izvestia” newspaper on August 27: “I have information that 93% voted for me at he last elections. Later, when I felt pressure, I admitted that the elections had been forged. I told then: “Yes, they are forged.” I ordered that the results should be about 80%, I don’t remember the exact figure, but not 93%. 90 is difficult for perception. But this is true.”

Commenting on this Lukashenka’s statement, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, the head of the Central Commission on Elections and Referendums, said she didn’t know about the rigging.

“The Central Election Commission didn’t have any orders and declared the data it had from official sources. They comply with the protocols of the elections commissions in Minsk and the regions,” Yarmoshyna said.

The CEC head supposed Lukashenka’s statement was based on “preliminary data he had had”. “There are so called closed voting stations – hospitals and military units – where the results are available earlier. Vote counting there begins at noon,” Yarmoshyna explained.

The first time when Lukashenka said about the rigged presidential elections was November 2006 in Minsk at a press conference for Ukrainian journalists.