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Last Updated:
2024-09-22 08:21:10

Alexander Lukashenko

Belarusian president since 1994
Belarusian president since 1994

Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus since 1994, maintained state ownership of key industries, preserving a socialist economic model. He has faced criticism for authoritarianism, election irregularities, and suppression of opposition.

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1975
Marriage to Galina Zhelnerovich

Lukashenko married Galina Zhelnerovich, his high school sweetheart, in 1975.

1979
Joining the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of Byelorussia

In 1979, Alexander Lukashenko joined the ranks of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of Byelorussia.

1980
Birth of Dmitry Lukashenko

Lukashenko's second son, Dmitry, was born in 1980.

1982
Deputy Chairman of a Collective Farm

In 1982, Alexander Lukashenko became the deputy chairman of a collective farm.

1985
Promotion to the Post of Director of the Gorodets State Farm and Construction Materials Plant

In 1985, Alexander Lukashenko was promoted to the post of director of the Gorodets state farm and construction materials plant in the Shklow district.

1987
Appointment as Director of the Gorodets State Farm

In 1987, Alexander Lukashenko was appointed as the director of the Gorodets state farm in Shklow district.

1990
Election as Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR

In 1990, Alexander Lukashenko was elected Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR.

1994
Alexander Lukashenko becomes President of Belarus

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.

1996-11-24
Belarusian Referendum on Amended Constitution

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.

1996-11-25
Announcement of Referendum Results

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.

1997
Lukashenko Elected Chairman of Belarusian Olympic Committee

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

2001-09-09
2001 Belarusian Presidential Election

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

2003-03
Belarus Condemnation of US-led Iraq War

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

2004-10-17
Belarusian Referendum on Presidential Term Limits

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.

2005-10-16
Day of Solidarity with Belarus

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.

2006-03-19
Belarusian Presidential 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.

2006-03-20
OSCE Declaration on Belarusian Election

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.

2007
Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, 1st Degree

In 2007, Alexander Lukashenko received the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, 1st Degree.

2008-09
Belarusian Parliamentary Elections

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.

2009-04
Lukashenko's Meeting with Pope Benedict XVI

In April 2009, Lukashenko held talks with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican, marking his first visit to Western Europe after a decade-long travel ban.

2010-12-19
Belarusian Presidential Election

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.'

2011-01-22
Inauguration Ceremony

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.

2011-01-31
EU Travel Ban

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.

2011-10-20
President Lukashenko's Reaction to Muammar Gaddafi's Death

Upon hearing the news regarding the death of Muammar Gaddafi, President Alexander Lukashenko condemned the aggression and the treatment of Gaddafi, expressing his critical views on the situation in Libya.

2012-03-04
Lukashenko's Comment on Being a Dictator

After being referred to as 'Europe's last dictator', Lukashenko provoked diplomatic rebuke from Germany after commenting that it was 'better to be a dictator than gay'.

2013
Presidential Order of Excellence

In 2013, Alexander Lukashenko received the Presidential Order of Excellence from Georgia.

2014-08-30
Order of Alexander Nevsky

On August 30, 2014, Alexander Lukashenko was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky in Russia.

2015-10-11
Fifth Term Election

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

2016-02-11
Badge of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus 'For Merit'

On February 11, 2016, Alexander Lukashenko was awarded the Badge of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus 'For Merit' for his contributions.

2016-10-04
Order of the Republic (Moldova)

On October 4, 2016, Alexander Lukashenko was honored with the Order of the Republic from Moldova as a sign of deep gratitude for his special merits in the development and strengthening of friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation between Belarus and Moldova, and for his significant support to Moldova in a difficult economic situation.

2016-11-28
Order of Heydar Aliyev

On November 28, 2016, Alexander Lukashenko was awarded the Order of Heydar Aliyev for his special merits in the development of friendly relations and cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan.

2017-09-15
Zapad 2017 Exercise

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

2018-08
Prime Minister Firing

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.

2019-07-01
75th Anniversary of the Minsk Offensive

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.

2019-08-29
Meeting with US National Security Advisor John Bolton

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.

2020-01-24
Accusation Against Russian President Vladimir Putin

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.

2020-03-16
Lukashenko's Controversial COVID-19 Statements

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.

2020-07-28
Lukashenko's Asymptomatic COVID-19 Announcement

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

2020-08-09
Sixth Term Election

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'.

2020-08-15
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Refers to Lukashenko as Former President

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.

2020-08-17
European Parliament Issues Joint Statement Against Lukashenko

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.

2020-08-19
European Union Member States Refuse to Recognize Belarus Election Results

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.

2020-08-22
European Union Explicitly States Non-Recognition of Lukashenko

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.

2020-08-23
Footage Emerges Showing Lukashenko at Independence Palace

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

2020-09-23
Lukashenko Formally Inaugurated for Sixth Term

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

2020-11-27
Lukashenko Announces Intention to Resign

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

2021-01-04
Belarusian Secret Services Murder Plot

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.

2021-04-17
Russia Exposes Alleged Military Coup and Assassination Attempt

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.

2021-04-24
Lukashenko Announces Decree to Amend Emergency Transfer of Power

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.

2021-05-05
Belarusians in Germany File Legal Complaint Against Lukashenko

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.

2021-05-09
Lukashenko signs presidential decree 'On the Protection of sovereignty and constitutional order'

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.

2021-05-23
Alleged State-Sponsored Hijacking of Ryanair Flight 4978

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.

2021-06-07
Deprivation of Honorary Doctor of Science title

On June 7, 2021, Alexander Lukashenko was deprived of his Honorary Doctor of Science title by Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv due to the forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft in Belarus, making him the first honorary doctor of science in the history of the university to be deprived of this title.

2021-08-12
Lukashenko's Stance on Mandatory Vaccination

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.

2021-11-11
Threat to Interrupt Gas Deliveries to EU

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.

2022-02
Permission for Russian Forces to Stage Invasion of Ukraine

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.

2022-03
Australia Sanctions Lukashenko

In March 2022, Australia sanctioned Lukashenko for giving strategic support to Russia and its military forces in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

2023-03-01
Meeting with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping

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

2023-06-24
Lukashenko negotiates with Yevgeny Prigozhin and Vladimir Putin to end the Wagner Group rebellion

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.

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Alexander Lukashenko
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