Belarus

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka is expected to sweep polls March 19 in a presidential election few anticipate will be free or fair.

In light of a disappointing performance by the Belarus democratic opposition, dissident Alexander Kozulin tells cfr.org his supporters will never stop trying to liberalize society in the former Soviet republic.

One of the Belarusian opposition’s few elder statesmen, Stanislav Shushkevich, says the March 19 presidential polls were “absolutely falsified.” In an interview with cfr.org from Minsk, he discusses the election, life in Belarus under President Alexander Lukashenka, and prospects for a peaceful revolt similar to those in Ukraine or Georgia.

Amid signs of slipping popularity, Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenka is expected to win a new presidential term on March 19. An official with a prominent Western polling group tells cfr.org Lukashenka is gaining less support from educated, urban youth but will still likely claim a commanding victory.