Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- Russian Observer September 11, 2001 "Practically all the Western media and the main Russian TV channels and publications were on the side of the opposition. I think that in this respect, Lukashenko was left holding the short end of the stick because the Russian media and television are quite popular in Belarus, and they were in the main working against Lukashenko." Election of Lukashenko was quite clean Reelection of Lukashenko was no surprise for political scientist Andranik Migranyan Viktor Sokolov 10.18.2001, 18:18 Full story: "Alexander Lukashenko reelected President of Belarus for second term" Q: Alexander Lukashenko was reelected president of Belarus for a second term. Are you surprised? A: I expected Lukashenko would win, and the outcome of the poll did not surprise me. Q: Everyone now is disputing whether these elections were clean or not. What is your opinion? A: I think the elections were quite clean, at least they were cleaner than in any other former Soviet republics that are now independent states. They were about as clean as they could be today in Russia, Ukraine and other former European union republics. What I want to say is that there were no flagrant violations that were registered by anyone. Q: Was the opposition unable to cope with its task? A: The results of the voting are quite logical. I don't think that the opposition, with its anti-Russia slogans, has more supporters than its leader. That's the maximum they could have counted on. In their mass, the Belarus people give their support and confidence to their president. Q: The western observers have no complaints about the voting procedure itself, but nonetheless, they maintain that Lukashenko monopolized the media too much. What do you think? A: No, I think that was not the case. Practically all the western media and the main Russian TV channels and publications were on the side of the opposition. I think that in this respect, Lukashenko was left holding the short end of the stick because the Russian media and television are quite popular in Belarus, and they were in the main working against Lukashenko. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
