Belarus: Democracy Denied By Dictatorship

Belarus is an authoritarian state with a history of rigged elections, restricted civil liberties, and a powerful executive. Since 1994, the country has been led by Alexander Lukashenko, who has been referred to as Europe's last dictator. Lukashenko has been accused of using illegitimate constitutional referendums to heighten his executive power, abolish term limits, and suppress opposition. International monitors have deemed elections in Belarus to be neither free nor fair, and the country has faced widespread criticism for its human rights violations, persecution of opposition leaders, and suppression of independent media. The judiciary and other institutions lack independence from Lukashenko, providing no check on his power. As a result, Belarus has been sanctioned by the European Union, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and its elections have not been recognised by the democratic opposition or the OSCE.

Alexander Lukashenko's presidency

Alexander Lukashenko has been the President of Belarus since 1994, making him the longest-serving head of state in Europe. Lukashenko's presidency has been marked by authoritarianism, economic mismanagement, and a close relationship with Russia.

Lukashenko's rise to power began in 1990 when he was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. He quickly gained a reputation as an opponent of corruption, and in 1993 he was elected interim chairman of the anti-corruption committee of the Belarusian parliament. In this role, he accused 70 senior government officials, including the Supreme Soviet chairman and prime minister, of corruption. Although the charges were unfounded, the scandal resulted in the resignation of the Supreme Soviet chairman.

In 1994, Lukashenko won the country's inaugural presidential election after the adoption of a new constitution. He campaigned as an independent on a populist platform, declaring: "I am neither with the leftists nor the rightists. But with the people against those who rob and deceive them." Lukashenko's initial win was regarded as free and fair by international monitors. However, his subsequent re-elections have been fraught with allegations of fraud and voter intimidation.

One of Lukashenko's first acts as president was to hold a referendum in 1995, which raised the controversial issue of the Russification of Belarus. The referendum included questions on granting Russian the status of a state language, changing state symbols, economic integration with Russia, and granting the president the right to dissolve parliament. Despite opposition from deputies in the Belarusian parliament, Lukashenko pushed ahead with the referendum, and the results granted him increased power.

In 1996, Lukashenko held another referendum, which further consolidated his power. He proposed a new constitution that gave him the right to prolong his term in office, rule by decree, and appoint one-third of the upper house of parliament. The US and the EU refused to accept the legitimacy of this referendum, and it was regarded internationally as unconstitutional. Despite this, Lukashenko has maintained a firm grip on power, suppressing opponents and limiting media freedom.

Lukashenko's economic policies have been characterised by a resistance to economic reform and a focus on maintaining state ownership of key industries. While this approach spared Belarus from the recessions experienced by other post-Soviet states, it also led to economic isolation and a dependence on Russia. Lukashenko has pursued close ties with Russia, including the creation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, which allows for the free movement of people and goods between the two countries.

Lukashenko's authoritarian rule has sparked widespread protests and condemnation from Western governments. In response to the fraudulent 2020 presidential election, in which Lukashenko claimed to have received 80% of the vote, mass protests broke out across Belarus. Security forces violently cracked down on demonstrators, and tens of thousands of people were arrested. The European Union, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials. Despite the opposition he faces, Lukashenko remains firmly entrenched in power, and his presidency continues to shape the political landscape of Belarus.

Rigged elections

Belarus is considered an authoritarian state, with elections being openly rigged and civil liberties being severely restricted. The country's president, Alexander Lukashenko, has been accused of rigging multiple elections to remain in power.

In the 2006 election, Lukashenko secured an 84.4% victory, which was deemed rigged by Western observers. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) declared that the election failed to meet OSCE commitments for democratic elections. Lukashenko's victory was, however, supported by election observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), who described the vote as open and transparent. The CIS observer mission commented that the negative statements made by the EU and the US were attempts to create predetermined negative sentiments in the international community towards the election results. Despite this, Lukashenko was banned from entering the 25 nations of the EU, as well as the US.

The 2020 election, in which Lukashenko secured an 80% victory, was also marred by allegations of vote-rigging, with mass protests of 100,000 demonstrators becoming regular occurrences in the capital, and some Sunday demonstrations reaching over 200,000. Opposition candidates were subjected to intimidation tactics and were stonewalled from appearing on ballots. Local independent observers were prohibited from polling stations, and peaceful protestors and journalists were detained without process. The US, Germany, and several other European countries refused to recognize Lukashenko's victory, with the US imposing "asset freezes and travel bans" on Lukashenko, his son, and multiple senior officials in the Belarusian government.

Several poll workers in the 2020 election have come forward with details of vote-rigging and have reported being pressured to falsify results in favour of Lukashenko. Valeria Artikhovskaya, a poll worker in Minsk, reported that she was asked to sign a document summing up the results of the election with the vote totals left blank. She also reported seeing other poll workers putting ballots for different candidates into a stack for Lukashenko. Another poll worker, Vadim Korzykov, was dismissed after he pointed out violations during the vote count. Andrei Gnidenko, a poll worker in Vitebsk, reported giving in to pressure and signing a document with falsified results. An audio recording from a polling station in Vitebsk was posted on YouTube, in which poll workers are heard being told by an official to falsify the results in favour of Lukashenko.

Lukashenko has been accused of rigging elections to remain in power since he took office in 1994. His victory in the 2020 election sparked a massive pro-democracy protest movement, which was met with a violent crackdown by security forces, resulting in the arbitrary detention of journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who challenged the regime.

Restricted civil liberties

Belarus is an authoritarian state where civil liberties are severely restricted. Security forces have violently assaulted and arbitrarily detained journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who challenge the regime. The judiciary and other institutions lack independence and provide no check on President Alexander Lukashenko's power.

Since the disputed 2020 election, Lukashenko has cracked down on a massive pro-democracy protest movement. Tens of thousands of people have been arrested, and as many as 500,000 Belarusians, including most of the country's independent media and civil society workers, have emigrated.

Under Lukashenko's rule, arbitrary arrests, politically motivated prosecutions, surveillance, censorship, and intimidation have become the new reality. Some of the violations committed in the years since the government's 2020 crackdown on protests could be considered crimes against humanity.

The right to freedom of speech and the press is restricted in Belarus. While independent media remains widely available in the capital, Minsk, the authorities have stepped up their campaign of harassment against them. The government also maintains a near-monopoly on the means of news production and distribution, further restricting the right to a free press.

Freedom of assembly is also restricted in Belarus, with a 1998 government decree requiring applications to be submitted at least 15 days in advance of any event. The local government must respond positively or negatively at least five days before the event, and all public demonstrations are held under government oversight.

The constitution provides for freedom of religion, but the authorities restrict this right in practice. While the 1996 amended constitution reaffirms the equality of religions and denominations before the law, it also contains restrictive language stipulating that cooperation between the state and religious organizations is regulated with regard to their influence on the formation of spiritual, cultural, and country traditions.

The Belarusian government has also been criticized by Human Rights Watch for its actions against NGOs, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians. Amnesty International has also characterized Belarusian legislation on the registration of NGOs as "over-prescriptive".

Human rights violations

Belarus has been criticised for its human rights violations and persecution of non-governmental organisations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians. The country's human rights violations have been described as "consistent" and "systematic", with the government accused of using the judiciary as a tool for political repression.

Freedom of Expression

Freedom of expression is severely restricted in Belarus. Amendments to the criminal code have made it easier for authorities to prosecute individuals for "crimes of an anti-state orientation" and introduced liability for "discrediting" the armed forces. Books and other printed products are outlawed for featuring "extremist content", and people are routinely arrested for subscribing to "extremist" Telegram channels. Journalists are also targeted, with some being arrested, beaten, and tortured for their work.

Freedom of Association

The Belarusian government has cracked down on independent civil society organisations, NGOs, professional organisations, and ethnic and religious communities. 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 organisations, and individuals have been arrested for "financing extremist activities".

Freedom of Religion and Belief

All religious organisations were required to undergo re-registration or face closure from October 2021. Catholic priests have been arrested and beaten, and the New Life Protestant Church has been targeted with its church building demolished and pastors arrested.

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is severely restricted. Participants in the 2020 protests and their supporters continue to be tracked down and imprisoned, with arrests and detentions reaching an unprecedented scale.

Torture and Ill-Treatment

Torture and ill-treatment are widespread and endemic, with perpetrators enjoying impunity. Individuals convicted under politically motivated charges face harsh treatment and inhumane conditions, including denial of healthcare, contact with family, and outdoor exercise.

Human Rights Defenders

The Belarusian government has targeted human rights defenders, preventing them from carrying out their work through arbitrary detention and imprisonment.

Refugees' and Migrants' Rights

Belarusian authorities have lured refugees and migrants with false promises of easy passage into the EU, only to force them across EU borders violently. Refugees and migrants at the border have faced torture and ill-treatment by Belarusian authorities.

Right to a Healthy Environment

According to the WHO, fine particulate air pollution in Belarus, mainly from vehicle emissions, is three times greater than the recommended safe limit and contributes to deaths from stroke and ischaemic heart disease. The country's climate policies are incompatible with its obligations under the Paris Agreement.

International sanctions

US Sanctions

The US Department of the Treasury has implemented the Belarus Sanctions program, which targets individuals and entities that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the country. The program includes blocking property and economic sanctions. The US has also imposed visa restrictions on members of the Lukashenka regime.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed a range of restrictive measures on Belarus, including individual and economic sanctions, restrictions on trade, and a SWIFT ban for several Belarusian banks. The EU has also restricted transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus and limited financial inflows from Belarus to the EU. These sanctions are intended to pressure the Belarusian leadership to prevent violence and repression, release political prisoners, and initiate a genuine national dialogue.

UK Sanctions

The UK has imposed sanctions on eight members of the Lukashenka regime, including the president himself. These sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans.

Canadian Sanctions

Canada has also imposed sanctions on the Lukashenka regime, although the specific details of these sanctions are unclear.

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