BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union rejected the election in Belarus on Sunday as illegitimate and threatened new sanctions. Belarus held an orchestrated vote virtually guaranteed to give 70-year-old autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko yet another term on top of his three decades 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,

An exit poll predicted hardline Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko will extend his 31-year rule with an 87.6pc share of the vote in a presidential election described by the US and EU as a sham.

The E.U. has called the election a sham, and President Alexander Lukashenko has said he’s “too busy” to even campaign.

Over the years, the country’s leadership has remained unchanged, with President Alexander Lukashenko securing repeated victories since Belarus gained independence. As political

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said that the elections in Belarus were illegitimate due to falsifications, repressions, and restrictions on citizens' rights.

Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko, 70, is seeking reelection for a seventh term. A presidential election will take place in Belarus on Sunday. Belarus might be dragged into a war,' "said Valery Karbalevich,