The Intelligence from The Economist Not free, not fair, not finished: Belarus’s election
Aug 20, 2020
Arkady Ostrovsky, The Economist's Russia editor with deep insights into Belarusian politics, discusses the massive protests following a disputed election and the resilience of those opposing Alexander Lukashenko's regime. Charlie McCann, the Southeast Asia correspondent, highlights Indonesia's alarming environmental challenges, particularly the government's controversial peatland farming project disguised as a food security initiative. They also touch on the intriguing implications of AI on creativity, questioning how it may impact human authorship.
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Belarus Protests
- Protests in Belarus are the largest in history, including unlikely groups like the Minsk Philharmonic.
- This follows a disputed election where Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory amid fraud accusations.
Stolen Election
- Arkady Ostrovsky notes that this election was stolen, not just rigged, unlike previous elections under Lukashenko.
- Evidence suggests the main challenger, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, won with over 70% of the vote.
State Terror
- Unprecedented protests in Belarus involve hundreds of thousands of people.
- Lukashenko's response, including violence and detention, has further eroded his legitimacy.