‘Europe’s last dictator’ takes no election chances

WITH media under tight control, parliament in his pocket, the opposition persecuted and powerful Russia on his side, no one doubts Alexander Lukashenko will be proclaimed the winner of Belarus’s presidential election.

The question is what comes afterward. The opposition has pledged protests if it judges the election a fraud, and the authorities have banned any such demonstrations.

Mr Lukashenko, branded “Europe’s last dictator” by Western governments, has packed parliament with his loyalists and thrown opposition figures in jail. At the same time, he has rejected international calls for an independent investigation into the disappearances of four government opponents several years ago.

With polling due next Sunday, opposition candidate Alexander Milinkevich has seen scores of his supporters detained. He complains of being denied virtually any access to media and most venues to meet with voters, and has called on his supporters to hold peaceful protests if votes are counted fraudulently.

But many Belarusians see no alternative to their iron-fisted leader.

Many are unaware or unwilling to take note of rampant human rights abuses and are thankful to Mr Lukashenko that their average monthly salaries of €210 and pensions of €92 are paid on time.

Tamara Shikhova, a 55-year-old Minsk worker, said she would vote only for Mr Lukashenko.

“My life hasn’t gotten worse under his rule.”