Atlantic Sentinel

Tag: Alexander Lukashenko

  • Lukashenko Shouldn’t Expect Russia’s Help

    Vladimir Putin
    Russian president Vladimir Putin listens during a meeting in Voronezh, August 5, 2014 (Kremlin)

    Alexander Lukashenko could have gone down in history as the father of the Belarusian state. Now “Europe’s last dictator” is on his last leg. A rigged election has unleashed unprecedented protests.

    Desperate, Lukashenko has turned to his ally, Vladimir Putin, for help. Belarusian state media report that Russia has promised to provide military assistance if Lukashenko asks for it. This has sparked speculation that Russia might intervene in Belarus much as it did in Ukraine when its Russia-friendly president, Viktor Yanukovich, was ousted in 2014.

    That doesn’t seem likely. In fact, Russia may be better off with Lukashenko gone. (more…)

  • Belarus’ Lukashenko Under Pressure from All Sides

    Mike Pompeo Alexander Lukashenko
    American secretary of state Mike Pompeo meets with President Alexander Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials in Minsk, February 1 (State Department/Ron Przysucha)

    Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko has been in power for 26 years. He is expected to win what will likely be a rigged election on Sunday, but he may not get a landslide this time. The cracks in his regime are widening. (more…)

  • Lukashenko Isn’t Interested in Belarus-Russia Union

    Earlier this month, the presidents of Belarus and Russia met in Sochi to discuss a merger of their two states. Nothing came of the meeting. Another is due on Friday. It is unlikely to produce results either.

    At this rate, the annual talks about closer integration are becoming a tradition without meaning.

    Alexander Lukashenko may not mind, but Vladimir Putin does. (more…)

  • Belarus Caught Between EU and Russia

    On Monday, the EU decided to put an end to a set of sanctions, in place for five years, against Belarus. Travel restrictions, the freezing of personal assets and sanctions on state-owned firms were in place since the repression of political opposition following the 2010 presidential elections. (more…)