Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko smiles at photographers as he prepares to cast his ballot during parliamentary elections in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. Belarusians are casting ballots for a new parliament in the authoritarian former Soviet republic that has been making steps toward rapprochement with the West. (Sergei Grits/Associated Press)MINSK, Belarus — Belarusians cast ballots Sunday for a new parliament in the authoritarian former Soviet republic that has been taking steps toward rapprochement with the West. After casting his ballot in the capital, Minsk, Lukashenko said the West should be satisfied with how the elections were conducted. After the 2102 parliament elections, the OSCE called for such measures as including increasing transparency of the vote count and improving rights of free expression.

Source: Washington Post September 11, 2016 05:22 UTC