#23 - JRL 2006-69 - JRL Home
Political Scientist: Belarusian Election Reflects True
Preferences
MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - Polity Foundation President Vyacheslav Nikonov
believes that the Belarusian presidential election reflects people's true
preferences.
"The elections mirrored the true preferences of Belarussian citizens; they
really prefer (Alexander) Lukashenko," he told Interfax on Monday.
"The ballot cannot be called ideal because administrative resources were used
in the election campaign," and the opposition did not have equal access to the
media, he said.
"However, I know of no single post-Soviet election of the past 15 years that
has been different," Nikonov said.
The Belarussian opposition enjoys the support of about 15% of the people, but
it was unable to win the elections, he said.
Attempts to repeat 'the Orange scenario' in Belarus will be made, but
Belarusian "authorities are much stronger than the authorities of countries that
lost in 'Orange' situations, while the Belarussian opposition is much weaker,"
he said.
"There will be attempts to organize a revolution (in Belarus) but I do not
think they have any prospects of success," Nikonov said.
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