MOSCOW, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday issued a statement approving of neighboring Belarus's presidential election, in which current president Alexander Lukashenko was declared winner by a landslide.

    The statement, which said the presidential re-election was fair and legitimate, was made after Belarusian election officials said Lukashenko had won a new five-year term with 82.6 percent of Sunday's vote.

    On Monday, Belarus Central Election Commission chief Lidiya Yermoshina said in Minsk, Belarus capital, that Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet Republic since 1994, won a convincing victory according to a complete preliminary ballot count.

    Russia has a union agreement with Belarus envisaging close political, economic and military ties and has always backed Lukashenko.

    "The election has highlighted high civic activity among the population, the Belarusian people's interest in stability and continuation of the socially-oriented policy," the Russian foreign ministry statement said.

    "The Belarusians have clearly expressed their will, and it must be viewed with respect," it said.

    "There is every reason to believe that the election has been held in conformity with universally-recognized standards, and its legitimacy is beyond any doubt," added the statement.

    But it also emerged on Monday, that opponents of Lukashenko were planning a second protest against the vote in Minsk.

    However, Lukashenko has vowed to stop mass rallies like those in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan in recent years. Enditem