Understanding The Non-Democratic Regimes Of Venezuela And Belarus

Venezuela and Belarus are two countries that have experienced democratic backsliding in recent years, transitioning from democratic systems of government to authoritarian ones. In Venezuela, this process began after the victory of socialist populist Hugo Chávez in the 1998 presidential election, while in Belarus, it began under the presidency of Alexander Lukashenko, who has served as the country's president for over twenty-five years. Both countries have been characterised by a concentration of power in the executive branch, a lack of institutional checks and balances, repression of independent media, and the marginalisation of opposition forces. Venezuela, in particular, has been plagued by economic mismanagement, corruption, and a severe humanitarian crisis, leading to mass emigration. Belarus has also witnessed mass protests in response to disputed elections and the authoritarian rule of Lukashenko, who has been accused of rigging elections and cracking down on protestors. The international community has largely condemned the actions of both the Venezuelan and Belarusian governments, with many countries refusing to recognise the legitimacy of their leaders.

The countries are ruled by authoritarian governments

Venezuela and Belarus are ruled by authoritarian governments. Since 1994, elections in Belarus have raised questions among representatives of the international democratic community. Since 1996, not a single election in Belarus has been recognised by either the democratic opposition or the OSCE. After coming to power in 1994, Alexander Lukashenko began implementing his populist 'back to the USSR' policy. Disrespect for the law and the desire to establish a regime of personal power led to Lukashenko's conflict with the Supreme Council, which he dissolved in 1996. He found support for his political power in Russia, which helped him resolve the political crisis in Belarus. This was the beginning of the process of establishing the Belarusian dictatorship.

Lukashenko's government has been characterised by a lack of transparency, the suppression of independent media, and the persecution of opposition candidates and activists. The Belarusian government has also failed to recognise the danger of the coronavirus epidemic, which angered citizens and further damaged the government's image. The Belarusian regime has relied on Russia to maintain control and has been accused of manipulating voter turnout numbers.

Venezuela, meanwhile, has been labelled an authoritarian state by Freedom House, with restricted political rights and civil liberties. The country has experienced democratic decline, with increasing government interference in the media and the suppression of dissent.

Elections are rigged

Since 1994, elections in Belarus have raised questions among representatives of the international democratic community. Since 1996, not a single election in Belarus has been recognised by either the democratic opposition or the OSCE. After coming to power in 1994, Alexander Lukashenko began implementing his populist 'back to the USSR' policy. Disrespect for the law and the desire to establish a regime of personal power led to Lukashenko's conflict with the Supreme Council, which he dissolved in 1996. He found support for his political power in Russia, which agreed to mediate the political crisis in Belarus. This was the starting point of the Belarusian dictatorship.

Lukashenko's regime has been characterised by a lack of transparency and the suppression of political opposition. Polling committees depend on executive power and must record voting results in final protocols "as necessary". Independent observers can follow the voting process, but they do not see the marks on individual ballots. This has resulted in political parties, including Social Democratic ones, being left without representatives in Parliament. The opposition faces constant threats of exclusion and growing pressure from the authorities, rendering legal methods of protest and elections ineffective.

The 2024 elections to the House of Representatives and Local Councils in Belarus took place against a backdrop of the liquidation of hundreds of NGOs, the closure of all independent media and independent unions, and the imprisonment of political activists. Officially, a high voter turnout of 73.09% was announced, but polling stations were almost empty throughout the day, casting doubt on the official figures. The independent website 'Nasha Niva' estimated that 97% of the members of parliament had been chosen before the election.

In Venezuela, the situation is similar, with the country being labelled as an authoritarian state by Freedom House. Venezuela's democratic status has been in decline, and it is likely that elections are not free and fair.

Civil liberties are restricted

In Belarus, elections are not transparent. Polling committees are dependent on executive power and must record the results of the voting in final protocols "as necessary". While independent observers can follow the voting process, they do not see the marks on individual ballots, and votes are not counted. This has resulted in political parties, including Social Democratic ones, being left without representatives in parliament. The number of members of opposition parties has remained small, as they are constantly under the threat of exclusion from the political system. The growing pressure exerted by the authorities on the opposition has rendered legal methods of protest and elections ineffective.

The Belarusian government has also cracked down on independent media, unions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). According to a report by Freedom House, Belarus is among the countries designated as "Not Free", with authoritarian actors becoming bolder and disregarding international criticism.

In Venezuela, civil liberties have been eroded under the rule of Nicolas Maduro, who has been accused of human rights abuses, corruption, and mismanagement of the economy. The country has experienced a severe political and economic crisis, with high inflation, shortages of food and medicine, and a decline in living standards. Maduro's government has been accused of arbitrarily arresting and detaining critics, as well as restricting freedom of speech and assembly.

The restrictions on civil liberties in both Belarus and Venezuela have led to protests and international criticism. However, the governments have responded with brutal crackdowns, relying on support from autocratic allies such as Russia and China to retain control.

The media is suppressed

In Belarus, the government monopolizes the media, owning all TV channels and most radio and print media. The constitution of Belarus guarantees freedom of speech and prohibits censorship and media monopolization, but in practice, any criticism of President Lukashenko and his government is considered a criminal offense. The country is in a state of 'legal default', with independent media outlets being pushed out of the country and those remaining practicing self-censorship. Licensing and registration procedures for media outlets are opaque and politicized, and outlets that "threaten the state's interests" can be denied accreditation and shut down.

The Ministry of Information of Belarus, established in 2001, serves as the country's media regulator. Since 2009, all media outlets, including websites, have been required to register with the ministry or face blockage. The government also established a Public Coordination Council in the Sphere of Mass Information to coordinate the interaction of state management, public associations, and other organizations carrying out activities in the sphere of mass information.

Arbitrary detention, arrests, and harassment of journalists are frequent in Belarus, and anti-extremism legislation targets independent journalism, including materials deemed contrary to the honor of the President. Journalists have been killed in suspicious circumstances, and most local independent outlets regularly practice self-censorship. Reporters Without Borders ranked Belarus 154th out of 178 countries in its 2010 Press Freedom Index, and in 2021, after a year-long purge of independent media by the Lukashenko regime, the country dropped to 158th place.

In Venezuela, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country 159th out of 180 countries in its 2023 World Press Freedom Index, classifying Venezuela's freedom of information as being in a "very difficult situation". The constitution of Venezuela protects freedom of expression and press freedom, but in practice, these freedoms are often suppressed. During the leadership of President Chávez and now Mr. Maduro, the accumulation of power in the executive branch and the erosion of human rights guarantees have enabled the government to intimidate, censor, and prosecute its critics. Broadcasters may be censored if they criticize the government, and there is "systematic self-censorship" encouraged toward the remaining private media due to pressure by the Venezuelan government.

The government has manipulated foreign exchange rates for media organizations, making it difficult for them to import resources, and has used front companies to buy out troubled organizations. As a result, many media organizations have been sold to owners sympathetic to the government, and employees have resigned due to enforced censorship. Between 2013 and 2018 during Nicolás Maduro's government, 115 media outlets were shut down, including 41 printed publications, 65 radio outlets, and 9 television channels.

During the 2014 Venezuelan protests, Colombian news channel NTN24 was taken off the air for "promoting violence", and during the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis, there were frequent "information blackouts", with periods without access to the internet or other news services during important political events. Venezuela's oldest private local radio station, Radio Caracas Radio (RCR), was also ordered off the air during this time.

Social media has played a pivotal role in the fight for democracy and human rights in Venezuela, as it allows politicians, activists, journalists, and civilians to record and publish incidents of injustice perpetrated by the authorities. However, social media has been censored by the Bolivarian government on multiple occasions, and the government has monitored the social media profiles of its workers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela, the National Assembly created a webpage to provide information on the coronavirus disease to the public, but access to the site was restricted for users of the state-run CANTV, the national telecommunications company and the country's largest provider.

Opposition candidates are targeted

In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko has stifled dissent and independent news media. In the run-up to the 2024 parliamentary elections, Lukashenko initiated a rigorous campaign to suppress opposition, with more than 100 people arrested across the country. Many of these arrests targeted participants in online chats, which the government accused of being part of an "extremist" network. Belarusian officials also launched a harsh crackdown on demonstrations following the 2020 presidential election, arresting approximately 65,000 participants. The ongoing oppression has imprisoned or exiled major opposition leaders, with human rights observers identifying around 1,300 political prisoners in Belarusian detention centres.

The 2024 parliamentary election results show that the chamber will have no members of the opposition to challenge Lukashenko. All 110 seats were won by former government functionaries, diplomats, and members of pro-government parties. Election observers and government opponents questioned the poll's integrity, citing concerns such as the exclusion of many opposition candidates, limited opportunities for public campaigning, and shortcomings during vote counting. The OSCE team leader, Margaret Cederfeldt, stated that the elections "demonstrated an overall lack of respect for democratic commitments".

In Venezuela, the situation is similar, with the country designated as "Not Free" by Freedom House. While specific details on the targeting of opposition candidates in Venezuela are not readily available, it is clear that the country faces issues with political rights and civil liberties, contributing to its status as a non-democratic nation.

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