The government of Belarus has banned foreign assistance for almost all political activity.

A series of new restrictions extends to election campaigning, political parties, political advertising, street demonstrations and protests.

The government, described by the EU and the US as "Europe's last dictatorship", said the measures were designed to prevent "the overthrow of state power".

The country's opposition says the ban will further deepen Belarus' isolation.

In one swoop of his pen, Belarus' autocratic leader, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has ended what opposition and non-governmental groups in his country considered their last lifeline.