Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, has been in power for over 25 years. He was born on August 30, 1954, in Kopys, Belarus. Lukashenko has been described as “Europe’s last dictator” due to his authoritarian rule and suppression of opposition.

Early Life and Career

Lukashenko studied history at the Mogilev Pedagogical Institute and later attended the Belarusian Agricultural Academy. He served in the Soviet Army and worked as an instructor in the border guard along the western border of Belarus.

In 1994, Lukashenko was elected president of Belarus with 80% of the vote. Since then, he has maintained his country’s close ties to Russia and restricted opposition movements and censored media.

Controversies and Criticisms

Lukashenko’s rule has been marred by allegations of strong-arm tactics and voting irregularities. He has been criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including recommending that people drink vodka and take saunas to combat the virus.

In 2020, Lukashenko was reelected with 80% of the vote, but the election was widely criticized as unfair. The opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, received about 10% of the vote and was later forced to flee the country.

International Relations

Lukashenko has maintained close ties to Russia and has been supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, his rule has been widely criticized by Western countries, including the United States and the European Union.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.