MINSK, Belarus—In the 21 years under Alexander Lukashenko’s rule, Belarus in many ways has seemed little different than the Soviet republic it once was. Dissent is stifled, sometimes harshly. The economy remains largely state-controlled. Even the flag is nearly identical to the Soviet-era emblem.
For all of that, he’s nonetheless sure to win a new term in Sunday’s presidential election. A poll by the state sociology institute in September tallied his support at 76 percent.
Lukashenko came to power in 1994 as a fierce anti-corruption campaigner with a vague political program. The former director of a collective farm appealed to voters who …read more
Source: The Epoch Times
