The card shows the sculptural composition "Independent Belarus" at Nezalezhnasti square. In the image on the right you can see the sculpture and its surroundings, the picture on the left is a close-up of the sculpture that shows the inscribed plaque on it. Nezalezhnasti square translates to Independence Square.
Unfortunately I don't read Russian, so I'll trust Mr. Google on trying to find out more. Which turns out to be extremely limited. I finally got a vague description that says it's a text praising Lukashenko.
Lukashenko refers to Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, who has been serving as the President of Belarus since July 1994. According to Wikipedia, there's been some issues with his government when it comes to International Law and Humand Rights, and is under sanctions from the European Union for Human Rights violations. Belarus is referred to as "the last true remaining dictatorship in the heart of Europe."
After he won the elections back then, he tried to reunited the Slavic states and create the Union State. After a referendum in 1996, the Constitution was changed, giving Lukashenko a lot more power and in effect turning the presidency into a "legal dictatorship". The U.S. and the European Union refused to accept the legitimacy.
He got re-elected in 2001, and during this term a referendum was passed that eliminated the limit on presidential terms, so he got to run for president again afterwards. The country grew economically, but that was largely due to importing Russian oil cheaper than market prices, and refining and selling it to Europe.
In 2005 he ran again for president, and opposition groups wanted one candidate that everyone could rally behind to create a stronger opposing force. Lukashenko threathened everyone going to opposition rallies would have their necks wrung. Of course he won again, and all 25 European countries declared these elections fundamentally flawed. Russia however claimed they were biased. Lukashenko admitted that he had rigged the elections against himself to show a result that seemed more western (as in: not as obvious that everyone voted for him, but making it look like the opposition actually had a decent amount of votes.).
You know, this gets quite repetitive, he did the same things in the next elections, and won again. Some of his opposition candidates were under media attacks from Russia, and two actually got beaten by police officers, and then abducted from the hospital they were receiving care at.
So as of January 2011, he's under a travel ban, meaning him and a bunch of his associates are not allowed to travel to European countries.
As I see these facts here in front of me, I've decided that's all I'm going to say on the subject. They're the facts I got off Wikipedia. I have a feeling adding personal feelings and opinions to this mix can only mean trouble and that's not what I want for my blog (if anyone even reads my ramblings that is).
Until next card
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