Prospects for Democracy in Belarus

Despite Aleksandr Lukashenka’s fraudulent re-election in March 2006 and his brutal action against the democratic opposition, some encouraging developments within Belarus for future democratisation of the country did take place: notably, the opponents of the Lukashenko regime managed to rally behind a single opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich. Moreover, civil society dared to openly engage in activities for democracy development, and international attention was significant.<br><br> Eight months after the presidential elections, the Heinrich Böll Foundation wants to review with representatives of the Belarusian opposition as well as international experts the developments which have taken place in Belarus since:<br> - Has the Lukashenka regime been strengthened through the elections?<br> - In which condition is the opposition?<br> - What consequences from the events around the elections arose for shaping relations to neighboring countries and the EU?<br><br> Additionally, an updated and enhanced edition of the book <a href="http://www.boell.de/en/05_world/4201.html">&ldquo;Prospects for Democracy in Belarus&rdquo;</a>, a joint publication of the German Marshall Fund and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, will be presented and distributed.<br><br> Opening Remarks:<br> <b>Sören Haffer</b>, Coordinator, EU Accession Programme, Heinrich Böll Foundation<br> Introduction and chair: <b>David R. Marples</b>, Professor of History, Department of History & Classics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada<br> Panelists:<br> <b>Jacek Kucharczyk</b>, Programme Director, Institute of Public Affairs, Poland<br> <b>Inna Kulej</b>, Political Scientist and Civic Activist, Belarus<br> <b>Andrei Sannikov</b>, International Coordinator, Civil Initiative Charter 97, Belarus<br> <b>Vitali Silitski</b>, Visiting Researcher at the Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford University, USA