Azernews.Az

MINSK – Few doubt that President Alexander Lukashenko — often called the last dictator in Europe — will be declared the winner of Sunday's election in Belarus. Still, the campaign has underlined his increasingly tenuous position, AP reported.

Lukashenko faces energized opponents who have campaigned with unusual freedom — by Belarus' repressive standards at least — and who are already planning mass protests against what they are sure will be a falsified vote tally. A crackdown on protests would likely torpedo Lukashenko's incremental efforts to mend fences with the West, but allowing them to continue could risk creating an irresistible opposition.

In power since 1994, Lukashenko is the longest-standing current leader in Europe. Once regarded as the Kremlin's obedient if loudmouthed ally, in recent years he has been often truculent toward Moscow, even alleging that Russia is financing his opponents.