Belarusian leader and Russian ally Alexander Lukashenko extended his 31-year rule on Monday after electoral officials declared him the winner of a presidential election Western governments rejected as a sham.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on his overwhelming re-election victory, securing 86.82% of the vote. Putin praised Lukashenko’s leadership and public support,

Victory “demonstrates your high political authority,” the Kremlin chief gushes about his counterpart in Minsk.