Belarus has elected its first opposition members of parliament in 20 years, the Reuters news agency reported Monday.
Anna Konopatskaya, a member of the opposition United Civil Party, and Yelena Anisim, an independent candidate with opposition ties, are both reported to have won seats. An opposition candidate last won a place in Belarus' 110-seat parliament in 1996, Reuters reported. The results will be officially announced later this week.
Belarusian officials have made a concerted effort to present more open elections within the country, allowing external monitors to access to the vote count and removing some barriers for candidates wishing to register.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that the country had done “everything so that there aren't complaints from the West.”
Lukashenko has led the country since 1994, receiving no less than 75 percent of the vote in any of the five elections in which he has stood.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.