(VOVWORLD) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko refused to rule out holding early elections in an interview with Russian media Tuesday.
 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Lukashenko acknowledged that he may have "overstayed" his time in office, but said he is the only person capable of protecting Belarus right now.
Lukashenko has been in power since 1994, won a sixth term as president with 80% of the vote of the August 9 elections. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who won 10% of the vote, rejected the results. After the disputed election result was announced, mass protests erupted in cities across Belarus, in which police and protesters have frequently clashed.