Mustachioed Cockroach

Alexander  Lukashenka: The Last Dictator of Europe

 

Written by: Pooja Sutar

Edited by: RitikaRana

Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenka, the sixty-six-year-old Belarussian politician is serving as Belarussian President since the past twenty-six years, that is right after freedom of the country. Often referred to as Europe’s last dictator, Lukashenka has maintained a tight grip on power by retaining much from the country’s Soviet past. His position had looked secure until the start of the country’s presidential election campaign in spring 2020. Despite imprisoning or otherwise suppressing most of his potential rivals, Lukashenka has found himself facing a unified opposition and fighting for his political life. 

In July 1994, Alexander Lukashenka was elected president of Belarus with 80 per cent of the votes cast in a runoff against the communist leader Vyacheslav Kebic for the first time by espousing communist principles in the country which recently got independent from the Soviet Union.

Lukashenka was previously director of a state farm and had made a swift political career as an anti-corruption politician. The 1994 election was perceived as free and fair. It was probably the most credible vote ever held in Belarus. At the time, Lukashenka was seen as a populist with no clear political program. Belarusians had voted against the old communist establishment.

Gradually, Lukashenka’s political agenda began to take shape. It consisted of three main elements: the restoration of the old Soviet economic system with only marginal market economic elements; gradually increasing political repression; and close political relations with Russia. By and large, he adopted the program of the communists that he had defeated, and they soon closed ranks behind him.

Lukashenka has maintained political power ever since through strong state control of the economy, control over the media, and as much repression as the situation has demanded. He is accused of at least four political murders and has imprisoned dozens of political opponents, but repression has been relatively limited in scope.

Today Lukashenko runs an authoritarian regime in the country, elections are far from free and fair, his political opponents are repressed and media has no freedom to put their view. America and the European Union have time and again put many sanctions on him but he has got back of Putin, who has always supported him in his biased decision.

Though Lukashenko has iron solid grip over Belarus but now the public rage against him and international pressure put on him after recent August elections, his authoritarian regime is surely going to end.

Public weariness with Lukashenko's iron-fisted rule heightened by his sheer dismissal of coronavirus pandemic as 'psychosis' and downfall of the economy has created a great discontent.

A huge number of people are coming on the streets every day and protesting against Lukashenko, this revolution is being termed as "Anti- Cockroach Revolution" after businessman and blogger Sergei Tikhanvosky made reference to children's poem "The Monster Cockroach", Lukashenko also got popular by the nickname of "Mustachioed Cockroach".