(Read full article on Euronews.com)
Belarus has controversially voted to remove the country’s nuclear-free status amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The country’s central elections commission said that 65.2% of those who took part in the referendum voted in favour of adopting a new constitution.
The revised law could strengthen the powers of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly — a distinct congress gathering the government, industry leaders and other top officials — and cement the 27-year power grip of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.
It could also see nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil for the first time since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Western governments have already said they would not recognise the result of the referendum, amid a continued crackdown on Belarus’ opposition.