Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power in Belarus for three decades, recently stated in an interview that he isn’t seeking another term. Known as the close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he has been in office since 1994 and secured a seventh term in March, though his opponents claim that the election lacked fairness.
Lukashenko firmly denies being an authoritarian leader, asserting, “Of course I am not Soviet, but the Soviet principles, the best, live within me,” during his conversation with Time. He suggests that rejecting these principles would be akin to Americans distancing themselves from their own historical roots. He emphasizes the strong ties with Russia, describing it as a partnership based on close cooperation.
As an opponent of the European Union, Lukashenko aids Russia in its military endeavors in Ukraine, remaining economically reliant on Moscow. He remarked, “Western Europe can get lost. Putin can ignore them. In this situation, if they reach a deal with Americans, the Europeans won’t get out of it.”
In 2022, Belarus became a staging ground for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Lukashenko previously maintaining discussions with the Trump administration, also aligning with Putin. His country has become instrumental for Russian military logistics.
Despite speculation about his son Nikolai potentially succeeding him, Lukashenko has dismissed such rumors. Furthermore, in June 2023, he took on the role of peace mediator, attempting to stabilize the situation following the insurrection led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, suggesting that Prigozhin would ultimately seek exile in Belarus rather than confront Putin militarily.
Lukashenko has not shied away from suppressing dissent, especially following the allegations of election fraud in 2020, which sparked widespread protests. Since then, he has been implicated in the imprisonment of 65,000 demonstrators.
Recently, amid ongoing unrest, Lukashenko has ramped up mass arrests of those attending anti-government protests, both within Belarus and internationally. Back in February, the U.S. managed to facilitate the release of three political prisoners, including American citizens and Belarusian journalists.
