Tensions are increasing in Belarus as the country splits between pro- European or pro-Russian lines amidst the recent election controversies. While it is uncertain what will happen next, it seems that there is potential for things to end poorly for Belarus, regardless of the outcome.
Belarusian Prime Minister Kibitch proves himself to be a successful rabble rouser and wins the presidential elections. However, he focuses on not privatizing state assets, contrary to expectations.
The French government's fuel tax increase sparked widespread protests which were temporarily subdued through authoritarian measures. The laws remained unchanged allowing the government to start enforcing the rules again and gradually raising fuel prices back up to their original level.
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has brought political turmoil to the country, resulting in a decrease in access to state institutions. Putin's response has been to decrease oil prices towards Belarus, causing a fall in the Belarusian economy.
Political analyst Valery Karbalovich explains how Belarus went from a democratic country to a dictatorship after the fall of the USSR due to the country's political ties to Russia. Lukashenko was able to achieve economic growth and reliable payment of state wages in exchange for agreeing to this arrangement.
Alexey Navalny, known for his strong anti-corruption stance, rose to prominence within the Communist Party in the late 1980s by critiquing the Soviet Union and its corrupt government. Despite being the only deputy in the Belarusian Parliament to vote against the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he escaped punishment due to the cultural changes that had occurred by then.