But he is mirthless when discussing the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko, an authoritarian figure who has been accused of sanctioning official terror. A number of opposition politicians and journalists are missing and presumed dead. Many Western nations do not recognize Lukashenko's government, accusing him of rigging a 1996 referendum to extend his term. The opposition boycotted parliamentary elections last October, while monitoring groups labeled the vote undemocratic. The United States refused to recognize the results, which sanctioned Lukashenko's rule.
People are afraid.
Independent organizations are being infiltrated by KGB agents. Plavec said his deportation was part of a campaign against foreigners ahead of September's presidential election. Lukashenko, Plavec suggests, wants to sever the country from the outside world in an effort to snuff out opposition. Shortly after Plavec was expelled, Leonid Yerin, the country's state security chief, accused international groups who are helping train domestic election observers of recruiting spies. Plavec believes that meetings and exchanges he set up between Belarusians and Czechs may have provoked the expulsion.