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The Belarussian people went to the polls today in parliamentary elections billed as a choice between East & West. President Lukashenko has ruled for 14 years and was labelled “the last dictator” by Condoleeza Rice. He has steered his country away from Russian orbit after the invasion of Georgia – failing to follow Moscow’s lead in recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent territories. Negotiations with the EU have been tentative and the election has been declared as fraudulent by the opposition.

It is suspected that the opposition parties will be allowed a small number of seats in order to appease the EU and allow talks of easing sanctions to move forward. In the uncertain steps towards full democracy and possible ascension to the EU, both sides need to accept a steady pace. A few competing parties in parliament is better than one alone, and this seems to be Mr Lukashenko’s tactic – restrained relinquishment of power and influence. Several prisoners, key to the opposition side, have been released and the elections allowed to go ahead.