David Kramer: Lukashenka afraid of domino effect

The situation in Belarus is unstable, the expert thinks.

Belarusian ruler Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who is concerned about the events in Ukraine, was closely monitoring the situation. It can be proved by his statement that no Maidan-style protests are possible in Belarus, Freedom House president David J. Kramer says.

According to him, after the world saw the luxurious residence of ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, ordinary Belarusians may ask about Lukashenka's residence in Drazdy.

David Kramer answered the question of charter97.org about possible consequences of the Ukrainian situation for the Lukashenka regime.

Saying that no Maidan was possible in Belarus, Aliaksandr Lukashenka clearly showed his concerns, Kramer says. Dictators are afraid of people's power. There are no doubts that Lukashenka was monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country. Buses were stopped on the Ukrainian border, people were arrested during protests against the intervention in Crimea. These are the signals that the regime is afraid of the domino effect, he thinks.

Kramer pointed at the unstable situation inside Belarus.

The social and economic situation in Belarus is far from being stable, and Yanukovych's residence in Mezhyhirya makes ordinary Belarusians ask questions about Lukashenka's residence in Drazdy, he said.

Kramer noted the Belarusian regime already gave Russia control over the country's key sectors.

Moreover, Russia doesn't need to intervene in Belarus, because Lukashenka already gave Russia control over the key spheres, and the only islands freedom and independence are in Belarusian civil society, he thinks.