There has been speculation about the state of health of Belarusian President Lukashenko for days. He was absent from the state flag celebration today for the first time in 29 years.
Even at the military parade on May 9 on “Victory Day” against Hitlerite fascism in Moscow, observers noticed that the Belarusian president made a weakened impression. He was absent from the banquet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to which all presidents of former Soviet republics were invited. It was said that Lukashenko left the celebrations after the parade early for health reasons.
Alexander Lukashenko at the May 9 celebration in Moscow
“State Flag Day” without President
The President has not been seen on Belarusian state television for days. On Sunday, Lukashenko was absent for the first time in years from the “State Flag Day” ceremony, one of the highest national holidays. The 68-year-old was represented by Prime Minister Roman Golovtschenko, who read a message from Lukashenko.
Media in neighboring Ukraine had reported that Lukashenko had been taken to a hospital. What he is suffering from is unclear. So far, there has been no official statement from the President’s Office in Minsk.
“Trembling with Weakness”
Opposition politician Pavel Latushko, who lives in exile in the EU and was a member of the Minsk government himself as culture minister, said on Friday that Lukashenko was apparently very seriously ill. “He can’t even walk a few hundred meters, can’t give speeches, can’t even stand up straight in the stands, swaying with weakness,” said Latuschko. State television is helpless and no longer knows what to say or show.
Great dependence on Moscow
As an authoritarian ruler, Lukashenko is the lynchpin of political life in Belarus. He owed his remaining in office in 2020 primarily to the support of Russian President Putin. Since then, Belarus has been more economically and politically dependent on Russia than ever before. Minsk is also supporting Moscow in the war in Ukraine, leaving Belarusian territory to Russian forces for attacks on the neighboring country.