The President of Russia’s all-weather ally state, Belarus, has been away from the public eye in the last few days. The Prime Minister’s appearance at a state ceremony raises more questions about the leader’s missing status.
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, wasn’t seen in the public eye during the past week. He also stayed absent during the “Flag Day” celebrations in the Belarusian capital Minsk. As per the local news media, BelTA state news agency, The Prime Minister of the country, Roman Golovchenko, took the President’s place by reading a message from the President’s side during the event.
He also skipped parts of the World War 2 Victory celebrations in the Russian Capital, where Russia Celebrated its legacy as the leader of the erstwhile Soviet Union last week.
Lukashenko has been in power as the President of Belarus since 1994. He is known for using police to clamp down on any protests and dissent using all measures possible. This includes closing down media outlets and imposing long jail terms on opponents and activists in recent times where the Belarussians are protesting for Democratic Reforms.
Russian President Putin has supported Lukashenko’s actions, and the latter supported Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine by allowing his territory to be used to dispatch Russian Troops and nuclear arsenal.
President’s Absence in Moscow
The news agency could not give any reason for the president’s absence from his last appearance in Moscow, where he appeared unwell. He appeared quite tired and a little unsteady on his feet, and a bandage was visible on his right hand during the Victory Day Celebrations in Moscow, which marks the Soviet Victory over Nazi Germany during World War 2. The Russian President invited the Belarussian leader along with the leaders from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The Video footage showed the unwell Belarussian President chatting with Putin and army top brass after the annual parade on Red Square. After skipping some parts of the Ceremony, Lukashenko joined the others to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior beside the Kremlin.
Lukashenko also missed the state lunch hosted by Putin in the Kremlin and attended by the other leaders, which was an unusual sign from his side and led to a wave of speculation in Belarus.
Last Appearance
He appeared at a few public events after returning from Moscow, and in one of the events, the leader’s voice sounded to be Hoarse. The leader stayed out of the public eye for a while before joining the Victory Day wreath-laying ceremony in Minsk last Tuesday. However, he wore civilian clothes over a military uniform for the first time in the event and made no speech in the event as well.
This led to wide speculation within Belarus, where Lukashenko ruled over the state since 1994 using various fear tactics and pressing measures.
Reports from Other News Sources
Several news sources have given insights into the whereabouts of the Belarussian President. According to the Belarussian opposition news outlet Euroradio, Lukashenko was taken to an elite Minsk clinic on Saturday to monitor his health condition.
A Russian online publication called Podyom quoted the statement of a senior member of the Russian Parliament, Duma, Konstantin Zatulin. He stated that the Belarusian Leader has simply fallen ill and may need some rest at the moment.
Another Russian newspaper, Kommersant, published a story about Lukashenko’s health, citing the Duma leader and Belarusian opposition media as their sources. It was seen as unusual for Russian Media to cover the health condition of a foreign leader, and Belarussian Public sees it as sceptical, thinking there is something serious behind the public eye.
This wave of Speculation within the country could shake Russia’s closest ally and weaken the little bit of support that Russia is receiving for the war it waged against Ukraine.
