Alexander Lukashenko: Difference between revisions

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Under Lukashenko's rule, the Belarusian government's conduct has been criticized in reports by international non-government organizations for violations [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Belarus of human rights] and of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_law international law]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-8 [8]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-militia-9 [9]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-10 [10]] Belarus has been called "the last true remaining dictatorship in the heart of Europe" by former and current European and American leaders.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-11 [11]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-reuters1-12 [12]] He and other Belarusian officials are also the subject of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions sanctions] imposed by the European Union and the United States for human rights violations off and on since 2006.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-13 [13]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-14 [14]] His domestic policies are similar to those of the former Soviet Union, maintaining government control over key industries and denouncing the privatization seen in other former Soviet republics. He is also highly [[Homophobia|Homophobic]] with him even saying “It’s better to be a dictator than gay”.

==Biography==

Lukashenko graduated from the Mogilyov Teaching Institute and the Belarusian Agricultural Academy. In the mid-1970s he was an instructor in political affairs, and he spent five years in the army. He subsequently held minor posts in the Komsomol ([[communist]] youth organization) and in local party organizations. From 1982 through 1990 he held management and party posts at collective and state farms and at a construction materials combine. He was elected to the parliament of the Belorussian S.S.R. in 1990.

Lukashenko graduated from the Mogilyov Teaching Institute and the Belarusian Agricultural Academy. In the mid-1970s he was an instructor in political affairs, and he spent five years in the army. He subsequently held minor posts in the Komsomol (communist youth organization) and in local party organizations. From 1982 through 1990 he held management and party posts at collective and state farms and at a construction materials combine. He was elected to the parliament of the Belorussian S.S.R. in 1990.

In parliament Lukashenko created a faction called Communists for Democracy. He was the only deputy to oppose the December 1991 agreement that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He maintained a close association with conservative communist factions in independent Belarus and had links with similar groups in Russia. In 1994 he addressed the Russian State Duma in Moscow with an appeal for the formation of a new union of Slavic states.

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 Under Lukashenko's rule, the Belarusian government's conduct has been criticized in reports by international non-government organizations for violations [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Belarus of human rights] and of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_law international law]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-8 [8]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-militia-9 [9]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-10 [10]] Belarus has been called "the last true remaining dictatorship in the heart of Europe" by former and current European and American leaders.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-11 [11]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-reuters1-12 [12]]</sup> He and other Belarusian officials are also the subject of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions sanctions] imposed by the European Union and the United States for human rights violations off and on since 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-13 [13]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko#cite_note-14 [14]]</sup> His domestic policies are similar to those of the former Soviet Union, maintaining government control over key industries and denouncing the privatization seen in other former Soviet republics. He is also highly [[Homophobia|Homophobic]] with him even saying “It’s better to be a dictator than gay”.
 ==Biography==
-Lukashenko graduated from the Mogilyov Teaching Institute and the Belarusian Agricultural Academy. In the mid-1970s he was an instructor in political affairs, and he spent five years in the army. He subsequently held minor posts in the Komsomol ([[communist]] youth organization) and in local party organizations. From 1982 through 1990 he held management and party posts at collective and state farms and at a construction materials combine. He was elected to the parliament of the Belorussian S.S.R. in 1990.
+Lukashenko graduated from the Mogilyov Teaching Institute and the Belarusian Agricultural Academy. In the mid-1970s he was an instructor in political affairs, and he spent five years in the army. He subsequently held minor posts in the Komsomol (communist youth organization) and in local party organizations. From 1982 through 1990 he held management and party posts at collective and state farms and at a construction materials combine. He was elected to the parliament of the Belorussian S.S.R. in 1990.
 In parliament Lukashenko created a faction called Communists for Democracy. He was the only deputy to oppose the December 1991 agreement that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He maintained a close association with conservative communist factions in independent Belarus and had links with similar groups in Russia. In 1994 he addressed the Russian State Duma in Moscow with an appeal for the formation of a new union of Slavic states.