Lukashenko's beauty queen wins seat in Belarusian parliament

A 22-year-old beauty queen who has been linked romantically to the long-time dictator of Belarus has become the country’s youngest MP after parliamentary elections that critics said were rigged.

Maria Vasilevich has been seen frequently in public with President Alexander Lukashenko, 65, since she was crowned Miss Belarus in May last year, The Australian reports.

A former collective farm boss, Mr Lukashenko, who has been dubbed “Europe’s last dictator”, has ruled the former Soviet state with an iron fist since 1994.

Ms Vasilevich has attended ice hockey matches, state-run arts festivals and the 2018 World Cup in Moscow with Mr Lukashenko. They also danced together at a new year ball in Minsk that was broadcast on national television.