Neither the Kremlin, nor the West will put pressure on Belarus in time of the country's presidential election late this year, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
"There will be no interference from Russia, the western countries or the United States," Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian parliament has set presidential election for December 19. Lukashenko looks likely to seek a fourth term in office at elections after registering his initiative group with the country's central elections committee on Friday.
The Belarusian leader said minor attempts to interfere in the elections are possible. "We are prepared to this. But I will do my best the elections to be open and transparent," he said.
"Keys of the polls are not in the Kremlin, but in the pockets of the Belarusian residents," Lukashenko added.
Lukashenko, who won three landslide victories in the 1994, 2001 and 2006 elections, has come under a massive media attack from the Kremlin recently, with the state-backed NTV channel broadcasting a three-part documentary called "The Godfather" about the onetime collective farm manager in July.
Some analysts say Russia, which has traditionally supported Lukashenko, may support an opposition candidate at the polls.
LIDA, September 25 (RIA Novosti)
