<h1>Belarus Election Rejected by Opposition and West; Sanctions Imposed Amid Claims of Rigging and Repression.</h1> Belarus' opposition and Western leaders have rejected the recent election results, which extended the authoritarian rule of the long-standing president. The Central Election Commission reported a victory with nearly 87% of the vote amidst claims of a rigged process and severe repression of dissent. The European Union and other Western nations condemned the election as illegitimate, announcing coordinated sanctions against Belarusian officials. The president, in power since 1994, has relied on Russian support, allowing military cooperation with Moscow. Opposition leaders, many exiled or imprisoned, continue to denounce the regime's human rights violations and call for international pressure to ease repression.