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Vladimir Putin is a close ally of Alexander Lukashenko (Image: Getty)
Alexander Lukashenko, often referred to in Western media as Europe's "last dictator", has signalled he isn't planning to run for another presidential term. This will come as a major blow to Vladimir Putin, with the Belarusian leader being the Russian President's main and most vocal ally on the continent.
Speaking to Belarusian Time's correspondent Simon Shuster, Lukashenko said: "No, I am not making any plans now. I am not planning anything." However, Lukashenko, 71, also appeared to leave the door open to remaining in power after the current term ends as he added: "The only thing I’ve thought, yet never voiced, that, well, Trump is nearly 80 and he still looks presentable…" In the two-hour-long interview, Lukashenko also ruled out the possibility of his son, Nikolai, stepping in as his successor.
Lukashenko's re-election in January was slammed by many countries (Image: Getty)
He said: "No, he’s not a successor. I knew you’d ask that. No, no, no. You could really offend him by suggesting that."
Lukashenko, who was elected in 1994 and has since grown into an authoritarian figure, added the next president of Belarus may pursue different policies.
He said: “I would only like them not to tear everything down, but proceed as I did - leaning on the shoulders of the strong, building on what already exists, steadily evolving the country without this destructive revolutionary upheaval."
Lukashenko was re-elected for a seventh term in January - with all but the first election he won being deemed by international watchdogs as neither free nor fair.
In 2020, mass protests erupted in Belarus to protest against Lukashenko's re-election. After the vote held in August that year, opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya claimed to have won with at least 60% of the vote. Her campaign later formed the Coordination Council, announcing it was ready to organise "long-term protests" against the official results.
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All seven members of the council's Presidium have since been arrested or have gone into exile.
Many countries, including the UK, have slammed as "sham" the presidential elections in Belarus, with the British Government issuing a statement in January, alongside Canada, Australia, the EU and New Zealand. It read: "We are united in our condemnation of the sham presidential elections in Belarus on 26 January and the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by the Belarusian regime. Recently announced sanctions represent a coordinated, multilateral effort to hold the Lukashenko regime to account."
Lukashenko has been a key partner of Russia for decades. In early 2022, he facilitated the Russian invasion of Ukraine by allowing Russian troops to be deployed from Belarusian territory.
Yet, in his latest interview, he said to have developed "absolutely trusting and cordial relations". Yet, he added, he speaks "frankly to his face".
English (US) · 