Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in as the president of Belarus Wednesday in the Palace of Independence, the official news agency Belta said. 

The report said that the swearing-in ceremony took place in the capital of Minsk with several hundred top government officials, lawmakers, representatives of media organizations and other prominent figures present.

Holding his right hand on the Constitution, 66-year-old Lukashenko took the oath in Belarusian. 

"Assuming the office of the President of the Republic of Belarus, I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and of the citizen, to observe and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, and to fulfill strictly and conscientiously the lofty duties that have been bestowed upon me."  

Belarus has been witnessing mass protests after incumbent President Lukashenko won a sixth term in the August 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results. 

According to the official results, Lukashenko, who has run the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million, won 80 percent of the vote. His strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10 percent.

Lukashenko has sought backing from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has promised him law enforcement backup if needed, as well as a 1.5 billion U.S. dollars loan. 

His main opposition rival Tikhanovskaya claimed she won the election but has taken shelter in Lithuania, while Lukashenko has jailed or driven out other key opposition figures. 

European Union foreign ministers on Monday failed to agree sanctions over the political crisis, despite a plea for support from Tikhanovskaya. Cyprus, which has good relations with Russia, has vetoed proposed EU sanctions. 

Russia says presidential inauguration is Belarus' domestic affair

The Kremlin said it believes that it is up to Belarus to set the date for the inauguration of its president, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, according to Tass News Agency.

"I would refrain from commenting on it because it was the Belarusian authorities' sovereign decision, and if they made such a decision, it means they considered it to be reasonable," he said.