Lukashenko stirs mixed emotions in Belarus village

As he always has in the past, Antoni Kurowski will vote against President Alexander Lukashenko when Belarus holds an election on Sunday.

But the 48-year old hospital driver knows his vote and those of his family members will make little difference to the outcome. Lukashenko, the strongman who has ruled the former Soviet republic for the past 16 years, is certain to secure another five-year term.

"I do, do hope one day we'll succeed, that we will get rid of him and it will be a huge victory," said Kurowski, who comes from a village near Lida, as he shopped for Christmas gifts with money saved from his monthly salary of $700.

Western powers accuse Lukashenko, 56, of maintaining an iron grip on power through fraudulent elections, crackdowns on opponents and muzzling of independent media.

In the vote on Sunday, he faces a disorganized assortment of political opponents, who lack access to state-controlled media channels and must wage their campaigns without a proper party structure behind them.

In the capital Minsk, Lukashenko's popularity is overwhelming. He has spent years cultivating a paternalistic image and many supporters see him as a safe pair of hands in uncertain times.

But in Lida, an old city of 100,000 located in western Belarus where many people, including Kurowski, have Polish roots, support for the Belarus leader is weaker.

"I know that some 60 percent of my village is not going to vote for him, he hasn't done much good for us," Kurowski said with a smile that revealed a row of gold-plated teeth.

He said he would vote for Vladimir Neklyayev, a 64-year-old poet who one of the main opposition candidates.