Why Putin Should Fear Belarus
The possible political demise of Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko after a quarter-century in power is not the only reason why the country's August 9 presidential election matters. The other is the long-standing tendency of political developments in Belarus to foreshadow events in Russia.
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MOSCOW – President Alexander Lukashenko has been ruling Belarus with an iron fist since 1994. But his grip on the country has weakened significantly in recent months, and he may well be out after the presidential election scheduled for August 9. Such an outcome would not only shake up Belarus; it also would give Russian President Vladimir Putin serious cause for concern.