Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko revealed during a speech to youth leaders in Minsk that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly joke and argue over which of them qualifies as the ultimate dictator.
asserted
which → reveal → dictator
The Belarus leader's comments at "Youth. Belarus. Future." on Sept. 17 also underlines the close alignment between Moscow and Minsk, as Lukashenko enjoys his position as Europe’s longest-serving head of state.
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Lukashenko → underline → state
Lukashenko has ruled over Belarus unhindered since 1994, with Putin leading Russia since 2012, also serving as president between 2000 and 2008.
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Putin → rule → 2000
"You know what they say about me?" Lukashenko asked the audience during his Sept. 17 address, according to Novaya Gazeta.
uncertain
Lukashenko → know → Gazeta
Vladimir Putin and I often joke and argue over which of us is more of a dictator."
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which → joke → dictator
He continued: "They say I’m the last dictator, the last dictator in Europe.
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I → continue → Europe
Well, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and I often argue, jokingly, about which of us is the bigger dictator."
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which → argue → us
Lukashenko, 72, a former Soviet collective farm manager, is also known to be Putin’s closest international partner and ally.
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Lukashenko → know → ?
While Minsk has not committed ground troops to the war in Ukraine, it serves as a strategic staging ground for Moscow, with Russia relying on Belarus for military and strategic support in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
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Russia → commit → Ukraine
According to the Kyiv Post, Belarus specifically provides Russia with key weapons components and allows its forces to launch military strikes from Belarusian territory.
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forces → accord → territory
An August report by Ukrainska Pravda also highlighted a new railway construction capable of handling military trains in Belarus's Gomel Oblast, right near the Ukraine border.
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report → highlight → border
The strength of the relationship between the two countries comes as Western officials increase pressure on Moscow and its allies and with the two leaders reported to be in frequent contact.
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leaders → come → contact
After meeting in Moscow on Aug. 27, Lukashenko officially congratulated Putin on Sept. 21 following the Russian election results.
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Lukashenko → meet → results
He praised the "unprecedented turnout of millions of voters" and the majority secured by the United Russia party, calling it a proper response to "cynical attempts from the outside to discredit the campaign and sow discord."
Addressing the youth forum in Minsk on political succession in Belarus, Lukashenko insisted no one is currently prepared to take over power.
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one → praise → power
"Never believe those who say that Lukashenko is ‘clinging to power with blue-knuckled hands’," he told the audience.
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he → believe → audience
"Good Lord, let them say it.
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them → let → it
I have had my fill of this power to the point where I could not possibly want any more of it.
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I → have → it
"
"The only question is whether you are capable today of taking over the country and holding on to it," he added.
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he → take → it
"If you are, start tomorrow.
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you → start → ?
To be frank, I cannot yet answer that question positively.
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I → answer → question
Do not take offence."
"I became a dictator then because I stood up against the entire ‘civilized world'," he claimed.
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he → take → world
Western nations maintain strict economic pressure on Minsk.
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nations → maintain → Minsk
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys recently reiterated the Baltic nation's firm stance:
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Budrys → reiterate → stance
"We do not see any reasons why our position on Belarus should soften as Belarus is not changing its behaviour," Budrys said.
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Budrys → see → behaviour
"On our side, we have to be very exact and continue what works, and that is the pressure on the regime."
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that → have → regime
Despite international sanctions, Lukashenko announced on Sept. 11 that Belarus has begun selling potash, a primary export used in fertilizer, to the United States.
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Belarus → announce → States
While Western nations maintain economic restrictions over human rights abuses, U.S. sanctions on Belarusian potash were lifted following recent political prisoner releases, though European Union sanctions remain active.
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sanctions → maintain → releases
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