SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
"How to Handle Europe's Last Dictator?
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed a sweeping victory in national elections. But European election observers have criticized the results, saying they are democratically deficient. German papers warn that Europe's last dictator presents a major political conundrum for the European Union.
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko preceded over what the German press is calling an 'election farce.'Defiant Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, widely known as 'Europe's last dictator,' sternly declared victory in his country's national elections on Sunday. With an 82.6 percent win -- incumbent Lukashenko beat out three opposition candidates, including democracy proponent Alexander Milinkevich. But foreign election observers, led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), claimed the election did not meet democratic standards. In the run-up to the poll, hundreds of opposition politicians were arrested or harrassed by Belarus' secret police, which still happens to be called the 'KGB.' The election may have been blessed by Moscow (which fears a Ukrainian style Orange Revolution), but in Europe the results have gotten a frosty reception."
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