Historical Figure
Alexander Lukashenko
b. 1954
President of Belarus since 1994
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Biography
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who has been the first and only president of Belarus since the office's establishment in 1994, making him the current longest-serving European leader.
In Their Own Words (5)
If someone is a lesbian, it's man's fault.
Comment about lesbians (2011), as seen on National Television of Belarus: Lukashenko about gays and lesbians. , 2011
I shan't be holding on to this job for life. As soon as people decline my services, I'll put my briefcase under my arm and I'll be off.
"Belarus President Lukashenko in his own words", Reuters (November 27, 2012) , 2012
From Oct. 6, all price increases are forbidden. Forbidden! From today. Not from tomorrow, from today. So that prices aren't driven up in the next 24 hours.
"Belarus Leader Bans Price Rises to Tackle Inflation", Moscow Times, 6 October 2022 , 2022
I look at Obama, a young man, a good-looking person. That is my first impression, I feel sorry for him. He looks 100% like Lukashenko, when I came to power after the downfall of the Soviet Union. The store shelves were empty, a severe financial crisis.
As quoted in The Wall Street Journal - Belarus President Seeks to Deploy Russia Missiles (14 November 2008). , 2008
We have rigged the latest election. 93.5 per cent have voted for Lukashenko. But they say it is not a European outcome. We have made it 86 per cent.
Press conference for Ukrainian journalists (November 2006), as quoted in "Lukashenka Must be Dismissed From Office For Rigging Presidential Elections Results" in Charter97 (23 November 2006). , 2006
Timeline
The story of Alexander Lukashenko, told in moments.
Won Belarus's first presidential election with 80% of the vote, running on an anti-corruption platform. He was 39 and a relative unknown.
Claimed 80% of the vote in a disputed election. Hundreds of thousands protested across Belarus. Security forces detained over 35,000 people. At least four died.
Ordered a fighter jet to intercept a Ryanair flight over Belarusian airspace and force it to land in Minsk. Authorities arrested a dissident journalist on board. The EU banned Belarusian airlines from its airspace.
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