Alexander Lukashenko’s willingness to hold a referendum in Belarus shows he is not a “bloodythirsty dictator” but his desire for power has not changed says former diplomat Witold Jurasz.

Speaking from Warsaw, Poland, Jurasz, who met Lukashenko while running the Polish embassy in Minck, said that the description of the Belarus leader as an “idealist in a twisted kind of way” is a good way ti characterise him.

After winning a landslide election earlier this month, which the opposition claim was rigged, he offered to hold a referendum based on changes to the constitution and handing over his powers.

It is a change of tone from the hardline president of a country where political opponents have been repressed.

“He is not a bloodthirsty dictator so this reaction isn’t very much of a surprise however I would just turn the attention to the fact that the change of tone and the proposal he has made means that he stays in power."

Video editing: Natalia Luz.