Summer in Transylvania 2,173 Posted May 15, 2023 A thread was requested, and he's certainly famous enough, so here we go. Alexander Lukashenko is currently the longest-serving President in Europe, specifically of Belarus, having served in that position since 1994. He has been multiple times accused of rigging elections and is a close ally of tyrant Vladimir Putin, openly supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Recently, he has been the subject of speculation about his health following a major state celebration that he did not turn up to, as well as a public appearance earlier this month where he looked visibly unwell and had a bandaged hand. He will be 69 at the end of August. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Comped 526 Posted May 15, 2023 47 minutes ago, Summer in Transylvania said: A thread was requested, and he's certainly famous enough, so here we go. Alexander Lukashenko is currently the longest-serving President in Europe, specifically of Belarus, having served in that position since 1994. He has been multiple times accused of rigging elections and is a close ally of tyrant Vladimir Putin, openly supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Recently, he has been the subject of speculation about his health following a major state celebration that he did not turn up to, as well as a public appearance earlier this month where he looked visibly unwell and had a bandaged hand. He will be 69 at the end of August. Apparently Russian officials have confirmed he's ill too... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prussianblue 1,027 Posted May 15, 2023 Lukashenko is also 'Chairman of the Supreme State Council' of the Union State, an obscure political union of Russia and Belarus that has never really amounted to anything, but could well serve as the most convenient vehicle for Putin to formally annex Belarus in the near future. Lukashenko has theoretically kept Russia at arms length for almost 30 years because of public pressure, but the extent to which he rules a truly independent country is highly debatable. Should he die, chances are that Putin would move quickly to take over. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drol 11,933 Posted May 15, 2023 Reappeared in public. End of speculations. 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcreptile 10,966 Posted May 15, 2023 I DO think that there is some fire under that smoke. Yes, the internet says that this might be the beginning of the takeover of Belarus by Russia. Lukashenko, in my opinion, is a little underrated, when it comes to "dictatorial skill". He managed to carve out an independent Belarus that for the longest time managed to maneuvre between Russia and the EU. Their GDP isn't even all that bad. If Putin hadn't been hell-bent on resurrecting a Russian empire, Lukashenko might have allowed a little liberalization, maybe like China. But we know now, looking at Ukraine, that Putin would never have allowed that. Anyway, maybe the illness is only a pretense for him to bow out alive. But I DO have him in my DDP theme team. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcreptile 10,966 Posted May 15, 2023 These Telegram pictures, they're making German news, too: https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/belarus-medien-veroeffentlichen-angeblich-aktuelle-bilder-von-alexander-lukaschenko-a-3c3b5741-3bd9-4498-8244-87475d8e28f2 They say that the bandage is around the wrong arm? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCI Frank Burnside 3,887 Posted May 15, 2023 16 minutes ago, gcreptile said: These Telegram pictures, they're making German news, too: https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/belarus-medien-veroeffentlichen-angeblich-aktuelle-bilder-von-alexander-lukaschenko-a-3c3b5741-3bd9-4498-8244-87475d8e28f2 They say that the bandage is around the wrong arm? Yep was on his right arm last week unless that image was flipped 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arghton 6,701 Posted May 15, 2023 I don't think he'll die yet (maybe in a year, two, three) and I don't think he'll die from natural causes. He's humiliated his former daddy Putler a few times now though. I also think his predecessor Myechyslaw Hryb will die before him. Hryb had rough covid and bilateral pneumonia two years ago suffering permanent lung damage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roaming_comrade 471 Posted May 15, 2023 People here always seem to swiftly predict the impending death of some politician outside of the "Western world". Putin slacking in a chair doesnt mean he'll croak tomorrow and neither will Lukashenko from a cold or whatever he had the past few days. On a different note, I recall that Lukashenko promised to not run in 2025 anymore, and neither will any of his sons. I'm pretty sure I saw that a few months ago but cant seem to find it anymore. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NightCoffee 11 Posted May 16, 2023 18 hours ago, DCI Frank Burnside said: Yep was on his right arm last week unless that image was flipped He probably has infectious endocarditis, and those are disguised catheters. They need to be moved from one hand to another Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,033 Posted May 21, 2023 Express has "insiders" claims: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1772611/Belarus-Lukashenko-Russia-illness-death So, probably nothing to see here. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankmisser 0 Posted May 24, 2023 On 15/05/2023 at 20:14, Summer in Transylvania said: A thread was requested, and he's certainly famous enough, so here we go. Alexander Lukashenko is currently the longest-serving President in Europe, specifically of Belarus, having served in that position since 1994. He has been multiple times accused of rigging elections and is a close ally of tyrant Vladimir Putin, openly supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Recently, he has been the subject of speculation about his health following a major state celebration that he did not turn up to, as well as a public appearance earlier this month where he looked visibly unwell and had a bandaged hand. He will be 69 at the end of August. That Putin that Lukashenka is long overdue to leave the management of countries! They hold on to power for 10 years and do not let go of it by oppressing their nations! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Undead In Ohio 156 Posted May 28, 2023 Consider the source, but according to Belarusian opposition leader Valery Tsepkalo, Lukashenko was taken to the Central Clinical Hospital of Moscow after a meeting with Putin and is supposedly in critical condition. Quote "According to the information we have, which needs additional confirmation, Lukashenko, after meeting with Putin behind closed doors, was urgently taken to the Central Clinical Hospital of Moscow, where he is now located. The best specialists were sent to return him from a condition assessed by doctors as critical. [His - ed.] blood was purified, Lukashenko's condition was proclaimed not transportable." https://news.yahoo.com/president-belarus-hospitalised-meeting-putin-204642610.html 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Commtech Sio Bibble 2,028 Posted March 1 On 15/05/2023 at 20:55, roaming_comrade said: On a different note, I recall that Lukashenko promised to not run in 2025 anymore, and neither will any of his sons. I'm pretty sure I saw that a few months ago but cant seem to find it anymore. You're never gonna believe it, amidst rumours of a potential coup against him, he declares his intention to run again in 2025. Clearly his health-scare last year wasn't as serious as some thought. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoverAndOut 4,746 Posted March 1 22 minutes ago, Commtech Sio Bibble said: You're never gonna believe it, amidst rumours of a potential coup against him, he declares his intention to run again in 2025. Clearly his health-scare last year wasn't as serious as some thought. Well he didn't win the last one, so what difference does it make? Why bother saying you'll run. Lock the doors and be the despot you know you are. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bentrovato 1,087 Posted July 7 Apparently Lukashenko had a bit of a turn recently. 'Europe's last dictator' falls ill during meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping (msn.com) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
