2023-05-14 13:51:00
Henadz Zhinkov/XinHua/dpa
For the first time in 29 years as president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko stayed away from the State Flag Day ceremony. Now there is wild speculation about his state of health.
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- Ruler Alexander Lukashenko stayed away from the State Flag Day ceremony in Belarus.
- Ukrainian media reports that he was taken to a hospital.
For the first time in 29 years, ruler Alexander Lukashenko stayed away from the State Flag Day ceremony in the ex-Soviet Republic of Belarus. The fact that the 68-year-old was represented by Prime Minister Roman Golovtschenko at the pompous state celebration fueled speculation about Lukashenko’s state of health. State television has not shown any current pictures of the politician for days, but he did read out a greeting with congratulations for the holiday. Media in neighboring Ukraine had previously reported that Lukashenko had been taken to a hospital.
Lukashenko, often referred to as Europe’s last dictator, attended the military parade in Moscow last Tuesday to commemorate the Soviet Army’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. He looked noticeably shattered and left the Victory Day celebrations on May 9th early. So far, there has been no statement about his condition from the President’s Office in Minsk.
The opposition politician Pavel Latushko, who lives in exile in the EU and was once a member of the Minsk government as culture minister, said on Friday that Lukashenko “is obviously very seriously ill”. Nothing is left of the former image of the strong leader. In 2020, Lukashenko declared himself the winner again in a controversial presidential election and had protests against the vote put down.
“He can’t even walk a few hundred meters, can’t give speeches, can’t even stand straight in the stands, swaying with weakness,” said Latuschko. State television is helpless and no longer knows what to say or show.
As an authoritarian ruler, Lukashenko is the central linchpin of political life in Belarus (Belarus). He owed his remaining in office in 2020 primarily to the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since then, Belarus has been more than ever economically and financially dependent on Russia. Minsk is also supporting Moscow in the war in Ukraine, allowing Belarusian territory to be used by Russian forces to attack the neighboring country.
dpa
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