It took tens of thousands of protestors braving police brutality, the flight of an opposition leader, widespread global concern and heightened tension at the threat of a Russian intervention for an authoritarian ruler to change his belligerent tune. Alexander Lukashenko, the 65-year-old leader of Belarus, has said he would be ready to hold new elections and hand over power after a constitutional referendum—an attempt to pacify the biggest challenge yet to his 26-year rule. He made the offer after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.
In signs of growing vulnerability, Lukashenko faced heckling and chants of “step down” during a speech to workers at a state-run factory. He also faces the threat of European Union sanctions after a bloody crackdown on protests following what demonstrators say was a rigged re-election victory last week. Official results gave him over 80 per cent of the vote. The EU is also preparing to send a message to Russia not to meddle, after Moscow told Lukashenko it was ready to provide military help in the event of an external threat. Belarus hosts pipelines that carry...
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