Alexander Lukashenko

In 1994, Alexander Lukashenko won the presidency in Belarus's inaugural presidential election after the adoption of a new constitution. This marked the beginning of his long-standing presidency, making him the longest-serving European president.

A referendum was held in Belarus with questions proposed by President Lukashenko and Parliament members. The amended constitution proposed by Lukashenko was accepted, voiding the one amended by the Supreme Council.

The results of the referendum in Belarus were announced, with 70.5% of voters approving the amended constitution, despite refusal of legitimacy by the US and the EU.

Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the chairman of the Belarusian Olympic Committee in 1997.

Lukashenko won the election with 75.65% of the vote, but the process failed to meet international standards according to the OSCE.

Belarus unanimously condemned the US-led Iraq War, as stated by President Lukashenko in March 2003.

A referendum was held to eliminate presidential term limits, approved by 79.42% of voters, despite falling short of international standards according to opposition groups and international organizations.

On the Day of Solidarity with Belarus, opposition groups Zubr and Third Way Belarus urged all opposition parties to unite behind one candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, to challenge Lukashenko in the 2006 election.

Exit polls on 19 March 2006 showed Lukashenko winning a third term in a landslide, amidst opposition reports of vote-rigging and fear of violence. The election was marked by large-scale demonstrations and opposition protests in Minsk.

The OSCE declared that the presidential election in Belarus failed to meet democratic election commitments, citing a pattern of intimidation and suppression of independent voices throughout the campaign.

Parliamentary elections held in September 2008 were described as flawed by OSCE observers, with deliberate falsification of results. Opposition members and supporters protested the official results.

Alexander Lukashenko won the election with 79.65% of the vote and 90.65% of the electorate voting. The OSCE categorized the elections as 'flawed' while the CIS mission observers approved the results as legitimate. Several European foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling the election and its aftermath an 'unfortunate step backwards in the development of democratic governance and respect for human rights in Belarus.'

Lukashenko's inauguration ceremony was boycotted by EU ambassadors, and only thirty-two foreign diplomats attended. During this ceremony, Lukashenko defended the legitimacy of his re-election and vowed that Belarus would never have its own version of the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine or Georgia's 2003 Rose Revolution.

The EU renewed a travel ban, prohibiting Lukashenko and 156 of his associates from traveling to EU member countries, as a result of the crackdown on opposition supporters.

Lukashenko was elected for his fifth term as the president of Belarus.

Lukashenko oversaw the advancement of joint Russian and Belarusian military relations during the military drills that were part of the Zapad 2017 exercise.

Lukashenko fired his prime minister Andrei Kobyakov and various other officials due to a corruption scandal. Sergei Rumas was appointed to take his place as prime minister.

Lukashenko oversaw the country's celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Minsk Offensive, which culminated in an evening military parade of the Armed Forces of Belarus on the last day, which is the country's Independence Day.

John Bolton, the National Security Advisor of the United States, was received by President Lukashenko during his visit to Minsk in August 2019, marking the first of its kind in 18 years.

Belarusian President Lukashenko publicly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to make Belarus a part of Russia, leading to strained relations and economic subsidies being cut by Russia.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lukashenko made controversial statements downplaying the severity of the virus and suggesting unconventional methods to prevent infection. He also joked about using vodka to combat the virus.

On July 28, 2020, Lukashenko announced that he had asymptomatic COVID-19. This announcement raised concerns about the handling of the pandemic in Belarus.

Lukashenko was re-elected for his sixth term as the President of Belarus. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that the election was 'not free [or] fair'.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius referred to Alexander Lukashenko as the 'former president' of Belarus, indicating a shift in the international perception of Lukashenko's leadership.

The members of the European Parliament issued a joint statement declaring that they do not recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the president of Belarus, further isolating him from the European Union.

The member states of the European Union agreed to not recognize the results of the Belarusian elections, joining the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada in refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the election outcome.

Josep Borrell, in an interview, explicitly stated that the European Union does not recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus, drawing a parallel to the situation in Venezuela with Nicolás Maduro.

Footage emerged showing Alexander Lukashenko at the Independence Palace in Minsk, displaying a confrontational and militarized stance amidst the ongoing protests.

Alexander Lukashenko was formally inaugurated for a sixth term as president of Belarus, despite widespread international criticism and refusal to recognize the election results.

Lukashenko announced his intention to resign once Belarus' new constitution was adopted, signaling a potential shift in the country's leadership.

New evidence, including documents and audio recordings, revealed a murder plot planned by Belarusian secret services to assassinate dissidents abroad. The audio file allegedly contains a recording from a bugged meeting in 2012, where the KGB chairman and officers from the KGB's Alpha Group discussed the murder plot, including planting a bomb and poisoning the target.

Russia's FSB security service exposed an alleged military coup and assassination attempt of Lukashenko, leading to the detention of two suspects, further highlighting the political turmoil in Belarus.

Lukashenko announced a decree to amend the emergency transfer of power, aiming to consolidate power within the Security Council and potentially pave the way for his son's succession, sparking concerns about democratic processes in Belarus.

Belarusians in Germany filed a legal complaint against Lukashenko for 'state torture' and 'crimes against humanity,' reflecting the international efforts to hold Lukashenko accountable for human rights abuses.

On 9 May 2021, Lukashenko signed a presidential decree titled 'On the Protection of sovereignty and constitutional order', which allows for the imposition of martial law and transfer of presidential power to the Security Council in the event that the President is unable to perform his duties. It also mandates the Security Council to organize new presidential elections, despite contradicting Article 89 of the constitution. Belarusian authorities praised the decree, claiming it complies with legislation and is constitutional.

Belarusian President Lukashenko personally ordered the forced landing of Ryanair Flight 4978, carrying opposition journalist Roman Protasevich, by conveying a false report of explosives on board. This action led to the arrest of Protasevich, who was targeted for his role in anti-government protests and incitement to public disorder.

Lukashenko stated his strong opposition to making vaccination mandatory in Belarus, emphasizing that it will remain voluntary. This stance has implications for the country's public health policies.

Lukashenko raised the possibility of interrupting the Yamal–Europe pipeline carrying Russian gas to the European Union if the bloc imposes further sanctions on Belarus, risking harming ties between Belarus and Russia.

Lukashenko permitted Russian forces to stage part of the invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory, expressing unexpectedness about the conflict's duration and claiming a past mistake of not finishing off Ukraine with Russia in 2014.

Lukashenko met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, resulting in a range of cooperation documents on industry, trade, agricultural, and other matters.

On 24 June 2023, Lukashenko claimed to have negotiated with Yevgeny Prigozhin and with the agreement of Vladimir Putin to end the Wagner Group rebellion. He warned the group that they would be squashed if they tried to enter Belarus and promised to accommodate their troops. This crisis raised Lukashenko's clout internationally.