Is Belarus President Ill? What We Know So Far

Speculation has been mounting about the health of Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, who has not been seen in public since May 8, 2023, when he reviewed Russia's annual military parade on Moscow's Red Square. The 68-year-old leader has been described as looking unwell and short of breath, and has missed several events, including a ceremony in the capital of Minsk, where the prime minister read a message from him. Lukashenko's office has declined to comment on his absence, but opposition news outlets have reported that he was taken to a clinic. This has sparked rumours about his health, with some speculating that he is seriously ill. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994 and is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lukashenko's absence sparks illness speculation

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's absence from an annual ceremony in Minsk on Sunday has sparked speculation that the longtime leader is seriously ill. Lukashenko has not been seen in public since 8 May, when he attended Russia's Victory Day commemorations in Moscow.

The prime minister, Roman Golovchenko, read a message from Lukashenko during the ceremony, at which young people swore allegiance to the ex-Soviet state's flag. No reason was given for Lukashenko's absence, and his office has declined to comment.

According to the opposition news outlet Euroradio, Lukashenko was taken to an elite clinic in Minsk on Saturday. Lukashenko also missed an event in Minsk marking the Victory Day anniversary, where he usually speaks. This was the last time he was seen in public.

Lukashenko, 68, has led Belarus since 1994, using police to put down protests, while courts closed dissident media outlets and imposed long jail terms on opponents. He has also allowed his country's territory to be used as part of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This is not the first time that Lukashenko has been unwell. In 2023, he was struck down by a mystery illness during a visit to Moscow for Russia's annual Victory Day parade. He was later reported to have been suffering from a virus. He has also appeared on state TV with a bandage visibly protruding from his jacket sleeve and what appeared to be an IV catheter bandage on his wrist.

Speculation about Lukashenko's health has been mounting, with a Russian online publication, Podyom, quoting a senior member of the Duma lower house of parliament, Konstantin Zatulin, as saying that "Lukashenko 'has simply fallen ill ... and probably needs a rest'".

Lukashenko's health and its implications

The Belarusian leader's health has been a topic of discussion in recent years, with several bouts of ill health. His absence from public events has fuelled speculation about his condition, and his office has remained tight-lipped about the reasons for his absence.

Lukashenko's health has significant implications for the country and the region. As a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko has played a key role in supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His absence could potentially impact the dynamics between the two countries and the ongoing conflict.

Opposition response

The exiled Belarusian opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has urged her supporters to be ready to turn her country into a democracy amid the speculation about Lukashenko's health. She has also criticised Lukashenko's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that his dismissal of the seriousness of the virus put lives at risk.

Lukashenko's bandaged wrist

The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, who has ruled the country since 1994, sparked health concerns after appearing at Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow in May 2023 with a bandage on his right hand. Lukashenko cut short his visit to Moscow and immediately returned to Minsk after the parade, without waiting for the end of all the celebrations. He also missed a lunch hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The following week, Lukashenko did not address the annual celebration of National Flag, Emblem, and Anthem Day as he usually does, with his prime minister reading a message on his behalf instead. This further fuelled speculation about his health, with opposition leader Valery Tsepkalo claiming that the Belarusian leader was "urgently transported to Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital after his closed-door meeting with Putin". Lukashenko's administration released pictures and videos of him to dispel the rumours, but observers questioned the timing of when they were taken.

In July 2024, Lukashenko again sparked concerns about his health when he met with Putin in St. Petersburg. He was seen walking with difficulty and appeared to be short of breath upon his arrival, greeting Governor Alexander Beglov.

Lukashenko has suffered several bouts of ill health in recent years. In 2020, he was rushed back to Minsk from Moscow after being struck down by a mystery illness. He was later reported to have been suffering from a virus. During the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, he appeared on state TV with what appeared to be an IV catheter bandage on his wrist.

Lukashenko's shortness of breath

Speculation has been mounting about the health of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who has not been seen in public since May 8, 2023. Lukashenko's shortness of breath may be linked to a serious undisclosed illness.

Lukashenko's state of health has been the subject of much discussion, with some speculating that he is unwell. The 68-year-old leader has not been seen publicly since he attended Russia's Victory Day commemorations in Moscow on May 8, 2023. His absence from a ceremony in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on May 14 further fuelled speculation.

During his last public appearance, Lukashenko appeared unwell and skipped parts of the Victory Day commemorations. He was also seen with a bandage on his hand and looked tired and unsteady. Lukashenko's office has declined to comment on his absence.

Upon his arrival in St. Petersburg for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July 2024, Lukashenko was visibly short of breath and walked with difficulty. This has prompted further concerns about his health.

Lukashenko has led Belarus since 1994 and has a history of using police to intimidate, beat, and jail opponents. He has also forced dissidents into exile and allowed his country to be used as a launching pad for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lukashenko's weight gain

Speculation about the health of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been mounting since he missed a ceremony in the capital of Minsk on 14 May 2023. The longtime leader has not been seen in public since 8 May, when he appeared unwell and skipped parts of the Victory Day commemorations in Moscow.

Lukashenko's absence has sparked rumours that he is seriously ill. According to a Belarusian opposition news outlet, he was taken to an elite clinic in Minsk on 13 May. A video of Lukashenko meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week further fuelled these rumours, as the 69-year-old appeared to be heavily overweight and was seen walking with difficulty, short of breath.

This is not the first time that Lukashenko has been visibly unwell. During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, he appeared on state television with what appeared to be an IV catheter bandage on his wrist. On another occasion, he was seen with a bandage visibly protruding from his jacket sleeve.

Lukashenko's latest weight gain and apparent ill health come after several bouts of sickness in recent years. In 2022, he was rushed back to Minsk from Moscow after being struck down by a mystery illness during Russia's Victory Day parade. He was later reported to have been suffering from a virus.

While Lukashenko's office has declined to comment on his health, his supporters argue that his rule has spared Belarus the turmoil experienced by other former Soviet countries. Lukashenko himself has commented on the criticism he has received, saying: "I've been hearing these accusations for over 10 years and we have got used to it. We are not going to answer them."

Lukashenko's dismissal of COVID-19 as a 'psychosis'

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed the threat posed by the virus, touting home remedies and refusing to shut down his country. He repeatedly called the pandemic a "psychosis" and recommended that citizens enjoy a traditional sauna or drink vodka "to poison the virus".

Lukashenko's dismissal of the virus as a "psychosis" was met with widespread criticism as he refused to impose strict coronavirus restrictions. The strongman leader, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, did not limit his public appearances during the pandemic and continued to hold in-person government meetings and play hockey.

In a speech in March 2020, Lukashenko stated, "It's better to die standing than to live on your knees," while wearing full hockey gear in an interview with state television. He also claimed that riding tractors and drinking vodka would provide protection from the virus.

Lukashenko's refusal to acknowledge the severity of the pandemic had dire consequences for his country. In April 2020, more than a dozen disabled orphans at the Vesnova orphanage in the central Hlusk district contracted COVID-19. The orphanage is home to 147 young people with severe disabilities and weak immune systems. Despite the outbreak, Lukashenko did not close borders or impose lockdown measures.

In July 2020, Lukashenko himself claimed to have contracted the virus but recovered without symptoms. He stated that he had "lived through this virus" and again dismissed the pandemic as a "psychosis".

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