On December 24, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. The Central Election Commission of Belarus today announced the official results of the presidential elections held on December 19. Incumbent Head of State Alexander Lukashenko was voted for by 79.65% of voters who participated in the elections. This data was announced today at a meeting of the Central Commission for Elections and Republican Referendums, BelTA reports. According to the official voting results, Alexander Lukashenko won the presidential elections in Belarus, receiving 79.65% of the votes. Grigory Kostusev received 1.97% of the votes, Ales Mikhalevich - 1.02%, Uladzimir Niakliayeu - 1.78%, Yaraslau Ramanchuk - 1.98%, Vital Rymasheuski - 1.09%, Andrei Sannikau - 2.43%, Mikalai Statkevich - 1.05%, Viktor Tereshchenko - 1.19%, Dzmitry Us - 0.39%. Against all candidates voted 6.47% of voters. According to the CEC, voter turnout in the past elections was 90.65%. Members of the Central Election Commission rejected a complaint filed with the CEC by one of the presidential candidates and refused to invalidate the elections, as no facts or evidence were presented to the Central Election Commission indicating violations that could affect the overall election results. Nikolai Lozovik, Secretary of the Central Election Commission, summing up the election results, emphasized that the current election campaign as a whole "was calm and organized. In many respects, it was much more liberal than previous elections, thanks to the amendments made to the electoral legislation." 39,000 domestic and over 1,000 foreign observers monitored the elections, the majority of whom highly praised the organization of the electoral process in Belarus. Individual violations and omissions in the election campaign were not systemic or widespread and did not affect the election results. -E-

BelTA