Alexander Lukashenko, the autocratic leader of Belarus who claimed victory in another election derided as a sham, played a "dirty game" in releasing an American hostage to coincide with the ballot, the country's opposition has told Newsweek.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is set to extend his 31-year rule with a landslide victory in a disputed election. Western governments have condemned the vote as fraudulent, as opposition figures face jail or exile.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin, claims victory with 87.6% of the vote in a controversial election denounced by the West as a sham. Critics highlight the suppression of opposition and jailing of dissidents,

Many Western leaders are decrying Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's re-election victory Sunday, calling it a sham along with the country's opposition.

Vladimir Putin praises Alexander Lukashenko's election victory and discusses military cooperation, including Oreshnik missiles in Belarus by 2025.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

Belarus held an orchestrated election over the weekend that the opposition and the EU rejected as a farce, extending President Lukashenko's more than 30 years in power.

STORY: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko extended his 31-year rule with a massive election win.The country held a presidential election on Sunday.According to results published on the Central Election Commission's Telegram account,

As an East African bloc urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who seized the city of Goma extended their advance on Wednesday, and Congo said it planned a campaign to recover lost territory.

As Belarus votes amid repression, what drives Alexander Lukashenko, the president likely to secure a seventh term.

Belarusian leader and Russian ally Alexander Lukashenko extended his 31-year rule on Monday after electoral officials declared him the winner of a presidential election that Western governments rejected as a sham.

VLADIMIR Putin’s best pal has “won” a sham election with 87 per cent of the vote and is now set to host the Russian dictator’s “unstoppable” new missiles.