President of Belarus inaugurated despite disputed election

President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't anunced in advance.

State news ncy Beltra reported that Wednesday's ceremony is taking place in capital of Minsk, with several hundred top government official present.

It comes after six weeks of mass protests against official results of Aug. 9 presidential election that resulted in Lukashenko's reelection after 26 years in office in office. opposition in Belarus has challenged election as rigged.

According to official results, Lukashenko, who has run ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist, won 80% of vote. United States and European Union have also criticized violent police crackdown on post-election protests in Belarus.

During inauguration ceremony, Lukashenko swore to “serve people of Republic of Belarus, respect and protect rights and freedoms of people and citizens.”

After being sworn in, he was handed an ID card of President of Belarus by head of country’s central election commission.