russian born august president office july career politician worked director state owned agricultural farm spent time soviet border troops deputy vote independence soviet_union opposed western backed shock therapy post soviet transition retained soviet era policies continued state ownership key industries despite objections western governments observers contend regime soviet nostalgia labeled europe dictatorship western journalists account self described authoritarian style government officials subject sanctions imposed european_union united_states alleged human rights violations early life career born august settlement grandfather born near today village grew father childhood leading having unmarried mother graduated served frontier troops addition led chapter officer based leaving military deputy chairman collective farm promoted post director state farm construction materials plant district elected deputy deputy parliament voted ratification december agreement dissolved soviet_union set having acquired reputation opponent corruption elected serve chairman anti corruption committee parliament late accused senior government officials including chairman prime minister corruption including stealing state funds personal purposes charges fully proven resigned embarrassment series events losing vote confidence new constitution enacted early paved way date democratic presidential election june july candidates stood round including campaigned independent populist platform defeat mafia conspiracy new world order ran regarded clear favorite won vote received received candidates received votes won second round election july vote shortly election addressed moscow proposing new states creation union state president term held referendum changing national symbols referendum russian language equal forged closer economic ties russia given ability decree summer deputies member parliament signed petition charges violating constitution shortly referendum held november questions offered offered group parliament members questions ranged social issues changing independence day july abolition death penalty national constitution result referendum constitution amended accepted amended new document dramatically increased power transformed presidency facto legal dictatorship force law acquired near total control government spending november announced voters turnout approved amended constitution refused accept legitimacy referendum referendum convened new parliamentary assembly members parliament loyal deputies withdrew signature petition deputies old parliament left dismissed international organizations western countries recognize current parliament given way formed start suspended trading led collapse value currency responded taking control entire bank leadership blaming west free fall currency blamed foreign governments april expelled ambassadors complex near moved building conflict caused international outcry resulted travel ban ambassadors eventually returned controversy died stepped attacks west stated western governments trying undermine levels sports winter olympics japan outbreak war suggested yugoslav president yugoslavia join second term held presidential election september original constitution election held referendum extended term additional years faced election campaign promised raise standards farming social benefits increase industrial output won round vote said process failed meet international standards jane price russian support ahead presidential elections surrender control section europe gas pipeline results announced declaring winner russia publicly welcomed election russian president offered message support following invasion iraq american intelligence agencies reported aides managed acquire syria unlikely offer safe haven sons action arms deals iraq iran prompted western governments tougher stance particularly angered arms sales american political leaders increasingly began refer europe dictatorship concerned security gas supplies russia took active interest affairs accession poland lithuania border grown kilometers televised address nation september announced plans referendum eliminate presidential term limits held october day parliamentary elections according official results approved voters previously limited terms required step presidential elections opposition groups european_union stated vote fell short international standards example failure cited pre marking ballots grew economically growth russian crude oil imported market prices refined sold european countries profit presidential election confirmed running election opposition groups began seek single candidate october day solidarity political groups way encouraged opposition parties rally candidate oppose election chosen candidate reacted saying going opposition protests duck march exit polls showed winning term landslide amid opposition reports vote rigging fear violence organisation gave vote gave noted government controlled released exit poll results noon election day voting stations close authorities vowed prevent large scale demonstrations following election marked orange revolution ukraine despite efforts opposition largest number years nightly protests continuing number days election largest protest occurred election night reporters associated_press estimated approximately people turned election observers russia led differed election declared march presidential election failed meet commitments democratic elections permitted state authority manner allow citizens freely fairly express ballot box pattern intimidation suppression independent voices evident campaign heads countries declared election fundamentally flawed contrast russian minister foreign affairs declared long elections declared elections illegitimate pretty biased commentaries progress results playing role later stated rigged election results order obtain majority typical european countries won vote said directed government announce result russian nationalists stated like president russia responded run russian presidency health good run reelection term september parliamentary elections held allowed opposition candidates stand official results opposition members failed seat available observers described vote flawed including cases deliberate results opposition members supporters demonstrated protest according based election observation mission findings dismissed west elections international standards later commented opposition financed foreign countries needed april held talks pope vatican visit western_europe travel ban decade earlier presidential election candidates registered presidential election held december originally envisaged earlier date approved ensure maximum participation citizens electoral campaign set convenient time voters run campaign marked series russian media attacks said opposition figures likely half vote total opposition figures alleged intimidation dirty tricks played election seen comparatively open result desire improve relations europe election day presidential candidates seriously beaten police different opposition rallies night election opposition protesters chanting long live similar attempted storm building government smashing windows doors riot police able push number protesters reported major news media people seven opposition presidential candidates arrested opposition candidates supporters members media arrested sent prison charges organizing mass disturbance examples include wife journalist house arrest party leader arrested said won vote gained votes electorate voting categorized elections flawed mission observers praised free transparent stated improvements run election including candidates use television debates ability deliver messages european foreign ministers issued joint statement calling election aftermath unfortunate step backwards development democratic governance respect human rights inauguration ceremony january ambassadors thirty foreign diplomats attended ceremony defended legitimacy election vowed version orange revolution georgia rose revolution effective january renewed travel ban prohibiting associates traveling member countries result crackdown opposition supporters presidential election domestic policy promotes man people style rule informally referred bats daddy elected chairman wanted rebuild took office economy declining industry lack demand goods kept industries control government slowed stated intention improve social welfare citizens powerful prosperous economy state election economic policies aimed prevent issues occurred soviet states establishment structures mass unemployment unemployment rate country end population million eligible workers decrease unemployment working eligible population million capita gross national income rose end major economic issue faced presidency value time major foreign euro dollar russian order maintain stability currency experienced free fall rounds major took place government announced average salaries increase largest record past years according seek international sources received loans china receiving loans agencies depend reforms economy according standards set agencies critics including opposition group use term refer political economic system implemented term broadly refer authoritarian ideology based cult personality nostalgia soviet times certain groups congress sought aid opposition groups passing democracy act introduce sanctions government provide financial support opposition supporters argue rule spared turmoil soviet countries commented criticism saying hearing accusations years got going answer want come premise elections held sure people masters state november referendum effectively held governing power nation house_of_representatives rejects choice prime minister twice right dissolve greater weight ordinary legislation near absolute control government spending parliament increase decrease spending permission legislature dominated supporters event substantive opposition presidential decisions members upper house nearly judges foreign policy relationship strained choice policies domestic opponents repression opponents caused called europe dictator resulted imposing sanctions range officials times lifted sanctions way encourage dialogue gain concessions adopted policy change engagement supported economic political reforms help integrate state relationship russia powerful ally vocal supporter significantly deteriorated run presidential election marked series russian media attacks july state controlled channel broadcast multi documentary entitled godfather highlighting suspicious disappearance number opposition leaders late 1990s called media attack dirty propaganda policies praised world leaders seen model country response question domestic policies president venezuela said model social state like beginning create chairman noted rapidly developing lithuanian mps praised economy contribution lithuanian economy said awe progress created efforts national leader crisis ukraine critic russian policy ukraine internal affairs criticized status idea proclaimed support government celebration spoke instead russian time later arranged meeting ukraine president russian president polish newspaper written transformation dictator europe acceptable sought improve trade relations latin_america controversial statements accused making remark praise adolf hitler history germany copy history germany raised ruins thanks firm authority connected known figure hitler bad german order evolved centuries attained peak hitler october accused making anti semitic comments addressing miserable state city live broadcast state radio stated jewish city jews concerned place live turned look israel saw jews money come members house_of_representatives sent letter ambassador addressing comments strong request comments caused negative reaction israel consequently editor today sent israel meeting said comment mistake said jokingly represent positions jewish people anti semitic insulted mere accusation ambassador israel stated president kind attitude jewish people press secretary said parts comments march days leaders including openly gay german foreign minister called new measures pressure alleged human rights abuses summit brussels provoked diplomatic germany commenting better dictator gay response having referred europe dictator meeting personal life family married high school sweetheart later year oldest son born second son born lives separately family house village near legally married estranged husband shortly president son national security aide according foreign tabloid newspaper dismissed public useless soon weaker fathered illegitimate son born confirmed government widely believed child mother affair personal doctor reported western observers media nicknamed successor according state media dismissed denied remain office thirty years time eligible stand election succeed believes president conservative person avoid modern electronic iphone play football abandoned presidency keen ice hockey forward played exhibition games alongside international hockey stars elder sons play hockey alongside father started training cross country child 2000s competed national level received invitation world championship considering going orders honors winner international premium faith loyalty order cuba order revolution libya special prize gates order services 2nd class russia honorary citizen armenia degree medal development world festival movement order degree keys city venezuela order distinguished citizen venezuela order order
Alexander Lukashenko