With many of his political opponents either jailed or exiled abroad, the 70-year-old Lukashenko is back on the ballot

Five candidates' names will appear on the ballot for a presidential election in Belarus on Sunday, but for the past 31 years there has only been one winner.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of playing games with the West by drip-feeding releases of political prisoners ahead of an election on Sunday in which he is set to extend his 31-year rule.

Belarus will hold a "presidential election," which experts describe as a hollow spectacle and a disinformation manoeuvre. Alyaksandr Lukashenka aims to demonstrate his strength and control over the country through this maneuver.