Belarus: Dictatorship Or Democracy?

Belarus has been described as the last European dictatorship under the rule of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has led the country with an iron hand and an iron fist since 1994. Critics have accused Lukashenko of rigging elections, human rights abuses, and surrendering Belarus's sovereignty to Russia's President Vladimir Putin. However, Lukashenko denies being a dictator, claiming that he has the support of Belarusian voters and steering the country through the post-Soviet Union turmoil. The country's politics take place within a framework of a presidential republic, with legislative power vested in a bicameral parliament. Nevertheless, international observers have questioned the fairness of elections, and there are concerns about media freedom and the repression of regime opponents. The Council of Europe has barred Belarus from membership due to voting irregularities, and human rights organizations have documented cases of torture, inhumane conditions, and forced psychiatric treatment.

Alexander Lukashenko's presidency

Since 1994, Belarus has been ruled by Alexander Lukashenko, who has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator". Lukashenko himself has denied being a dictator, stating that he was elected by the people of Belarus and that he is troubled about the future of the country.

Lukashenko's rule has been characterised by strong state control of the economy, the media, and political repression. He has been accused of rigging elections, silencing opponents, and limiting media freedom. International monitors have not regarded Belarusian elections as free and fair, except for his initial win. The government suppresses opponents and critics, and the media is not free. This has resulted in multiple Western governments imposing sanctions on Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials.

Lukashenko's early economic policies aimed to prevent the issues that occurred in other post-Soviet states, such as the establishment of oligarchic structures and mass unemployment. He opposed economic shock therapy during the 1990s post-Soviet transition, maintaining state ownership of key industries in Belarus. This approach, along with strong Russian support, helped spare Belarus from recessions as devastating as those in other post-Soviet states.

Lukashenko's political agenda consisted of three main elements: the restoration of the old Soviet economic system with only marginal market economic elements; gradually increasing political repression; and close political relations with Russia. He has retained much of the country's Soviet past, including the Russian language, coat of arms, and national flag.

Lukashenko's relationship with Russia has been significant during his presidency. He played a crucial role in creating the Union State of Russia and Belarus, enabling Belarusians and Russians to travel, work, and study freely between the two countries. However, there have been tensions between Lukashenko and the Russian government, particularly around the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, when Russia cut economic subsidies to Belarus.

Lukashenko's rule has been marked by several controversies, including controversial statements deemed antisemitic, homophobic, and misogynistic. He has also been accused of corruption and human rights violations, with critics pointing to cases of persecution, disappearances, and deaths of opposition leaders and journalists.

In summary, Alexander Lukashenko's presidency in Belarus has been characterised by authoritarian rule, economic policies rooted in the Soviet past, close ties with Russia, and controversies around human rights and freedom of expression. His long-term grip on power and suppression of opposition have led to widespread protests and international sanctions.

Rigged elections

Since 1994, Belarus has been ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator". His rule has been marked by allegations of rigged elections, the persecution of opposition leaders and journalists, and human rights violations.

Lukashenko has denied being a dictator, stating that he has the support of Belarusian voters and that he does not decide whether he remains in power. However, his opponents, most of whom are now abroad, accuse him of rigging elections and surrendering Belarus's sovereignty to Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

There is significant evidence to support the claims of election rigging. During the 2006 presidential election, Western observers deemed the elections rigged, with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) declaring that the election failed to meet OSCE commitments for democratic elections. The United States also stated that it believed the election was rigged and supported calls for a new election.

Similar accusations arose following the August 9, 2020, presidential election, in which Lukashenko was declared the winner with 80% of the vote. The opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was reported to have received only 10% of the vote. However, Tsikhanouskaya's supporters and independent monitors reported a much higher number of votes for her in several precincts. There were also reports of ballot fraud and pressure to falsify results in favour of Lukashenko. Poll workers came forward with accounts of being asked to sign documents with blank vote totals and being pressured to sign documents with falsified results.

The allegations of rigged elections, along with human rights violations and crackdowns on NGOs, independent journalists, and opposition politicians, have led to international condemnation and sanctions against Lukashenko's regime. The Council of Europe has barred Belarus from membership since 1997 due to voting irregularities. The EU, the US, and the UK have also imposed sanctions on Belarus, targeting officials believed to have committed human rights violations and election fraud.

Human rights abuses

Belarus has been described as "Europe's last dictatorship" by Western countries. The country is ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. Lukashenko has been quoted as saying he has an authoritarian ruling style and has often been referred to as "Europe's last dictator".

There have been several reports of human rights abuses and violations in Belarus. Here are some examples:

Freedom of Expression, Assembly, and Association

• The rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association are severely restricted in Belarus.
• In May 2023, amendments to the criminal code made it easier for authorities to prosecute individuals for "crimes of an anti-state orientation" and introduced liability for "discrediting" the armed forces and government forces.
• Dozens of people are arrested every month for subscribing to "extremist" Telegram channels.
• The crackdown on independent civil society organizations, NGOs, professional organizations, and ethnic and religious communities has intensified.
• All 12 parties opposed to the government were refused re-registration and dissolved ahead of the 2024 elections.
• Arbitrary charges of "extremism" have been used to close civil society organizations, such as the human rights centre Viasna.
• Individuals have been arrested and sentenced to prison for "financing extremist activities or organizations".
• The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is restricted, and public demonstrations are allowed only under government oversight.
• The Belarusian Association of Journalists, Press Club Belarus, and Belarusian writers' PEN center have faced restrictions and revocation of registrations.
• The constitutional right to freedom of association is not always implemented in practice. The registration process for NGOs is "over-prescriptive" and the Ministry of Justice often denies registration to political parties.

Persecution of Opposition and Human Rights Defenders

• The government of Belarus has been criticized for its persecution of non-governmental organizations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.
• During the 2020 presidential election and subsequent protests, the number of political prisoners recognized by the Viasna Human Rights Centre rose dramatically.
• Several people died due to the use of unlawful force, including firearms, by law enforcement during the 2020 protests.
• The authorities did not investigate violations during the protests but instead harassed those who challenged their version of events.
• In July 2021, the government launched a campaign against the remaining non-governmental organizations, liquidating at least 270 of them by October, including all previously registered human rights organizations.
• Human rights defenders are prevented from carrying out their work and are often subjected to arbitrary detention and false charges.
• The persecution of lawyers defending victims of politically motivated prosecution is ongoing, with reports of imprisonment, disbarment, and denial of license extensions.
• In July 2024, Belarus freed five political prisoners in a rare amnesty, but human rights activists accuse the authorities of imposing harsh conditions for releasing detainees.

Torture and Ill-Treatment

• Torture and other forms of ill-treatment are widespread and endemic, with perpetrators enjoying impunity.
• Individuals convicted under politically motivated charges face harsh treatment, including denial of adequate healthcare, contact with family members, and outdoor exercise.
• In July 2023, imprisoned artist Ales Pushkin died reportedly from an untreated perforated ulcer while serving a five-year sentence for unfounded charges.
• Human rights experts from the United Nations documented 450 pieces of evidence of torture, cruel treatment, sexual abuse, and restricted access to basic necessities during the 2020 protests.
• An audio recording was released in January 2021, in which a deputy interior minister of Belarus, Mikalai Karpiankou, told security forces that they could cripple, maim, and kill protesters.
• There have been reports of the use of forced psychiatric treatment.

Death Penalty and Refugees' Rights

• Belarus is the only European country that retains the death penalty for certain crimes.
• Death sentences continue to be imposed, and new provisions in the criminal code have extended the application of the death penalty to treason by officials, state officials, and military officers.
• Refugees and migrants suffer abuses at the hands of the authorities, and Belarusian authorities have lured refugees and migrants with false promises of easy passage into the EU, only to force them across borders violently.

These are just a few examples of the human rights abuses that have occurred in Belarus under Lukashenko's rule. The international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have raised concerns and imposed sanctions in response to these abuses.

Media suppression

Since 1994, Belarus has been ruled by Alexander Lukashenko, who has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator". Lukashenko himself has admitted to having an authoritarian ruling style and has expressed concern about the future of Belarus, worrying that "a new person [could] destroy everything".

The country's media is not free, and the government has been known to impose strict restrictions on freedom of speech and the press. While independent media remains available in the capital city of Minsk, the authorities have been known to harass independent media outlets, severely restricting the right to a free press. This is achieved through near-monopolies on the means of newsprint production and national broadcast media, as well as by denying accreditation to journalists who are critical of the government.

The Belarusian government has also been criticised by Human Rights Watch for its actions against independent journalists, among other groups. In 2005, the Lukashenko government launched a campaign against the Union of Poles in Belarus (UPB), the largest civil organisation outside of government control at the time. As part of this campaign, the authorities closed a Polish-language newspaper and replaced the democratically elected leadership of the UPB with their own nominees.

In addition, the Belarusian Ministry of Justice has denied all attempts to register new political parties since 2000, with justifications that are often considered artificial and flimsy. Amnesty International has reported cases of local authorities and managers pressuring individuals to withdraw their signatures from petitions to register a political party.

Political prisoners

Belarus has been described as "Europe's last dictatorship" by Western countries, and its leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator". Lukashenko has denied being a dictator, stating that he has the support of the Belarusian voters. However, he has also described his ruling style as "authoritarian".

Under Lukashenko's rule, human rights violations and persecution of non-governmental organisations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians have been reported. Lukashenko's opponents, most of whom are now abroad, accuse him of rigging elections and surrendering Belarus's sovereignty to Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

The number of political prisoners in Belarus has been a significant concern. Human rights groups estimate that there are currently more than 1,400 political prisoners in the country, including Viasna's founder, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. These prisoners include bloggers, businessmen, presidential campaign members, and peaceful protesters who have been targeted for their exercise of rights such as freedom of assembly, expression, and political participation.

The issue of political prisoners in Belarus gained prominence during the 2020 presidential election and the subsequent protests. The Viasna Human Rights Centre recognised a dramatic rise in the number of political prisoners during this period, reaching 1062 as of 16 February 2022. The Belarusian authorities have been accused of imposing harsh conditions for the release of political prisoners, such as requiring public admissions of guilt.

The treatment of political prisoners in Belarus has drawn criticism from organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. There have been reports of prisoners being tortured, held in inhumane conditions, subjected to forced psychiatric treatment, and denied adequate medical care and contact with their families.

The international community, including the United States, the European Union, and the Council of Europe, has responded to the situation in Belarus with sanctions and other measures. The Council of Europe has barred Belarus from membership since 1997 due to undemocratic voting practices and election irregularities.

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