There are not many world leaders who have been in power for thirty years.
Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus is accused of stealing elections, crushing dissent and dismantling democracy.
Britain, the EU and the US do not recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus.
There’s one more thing you should know about him: If there’s one leader Vladimir Putin knows inside and out, it’s Lukashenko. The two men have known each other for years and meet regularly.
Alexander Lukashenko met me on the sidelines of the Brics summit of emerging economies. He wants Belarus to become a member.
I asked him to comment on claims that North Korea had sent troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.
“Nonsense,” Lukashenko replied. “Knowing his character, Putin would never try to convince another country to involve its military in Russia’s special operation in Ukraine.”
“And if the reports are confirmed?” I asked.
“It would be a step towards escalating the conflict if the armed forces of any country, even Belarus, were on the border,” Alexander Lukashenko replied.
“Even if we were to get involved in the war, this would be a path to escalation. Why? Because you, the Anglo-Saxons, would immediately say that on one side another country was involved… so that NATO troops would be deployed in Ukraine.”
I ask him whether Vladimir Putin has ever asked Lukashenko to provide Belarusian troops for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
“Never. Neither he, nor [former Defence Minister] Neither Sergei Shoigu nor current Defense Minister Andrei Belousov have ever asked that question.”
But Belarus played a role in the Russian war. In February 2022, Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine began, partly from Belarusian territory. Why did the country’s leader let the Kremlin do that?
“How do you know that I authorized the use of Belarusian territory?” Lukashenko asks me.
“Because Belarusian territory was used [for the invasion].”
“There were exercises going on involving several thousand Russian soldiers. Putin began withdrawing these troops from where they were in southern Belarus, along a road along the border with Ukraine.
‘At one point he redirected some of these troops to Kiev. I’m sure they were provoked. It is up to Putin how he withdraws his troops. Via Kiev. Or he could have gone via Minsk.’
“Didn’t you call Putin to ask what was going on?” I ask.
“No. He didn’t call me. And I didn’t call him. These are his troops and he has the right to move them any way he wants.”
This comment reflects the level of influence the Kremlin has in neighboring Belarus.
Another example: Russia has stationed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
“Is Putin ready to use these weapons in the war in Ukraine?” I ask.
“Putin will never use the weapons stationed in Belarus without the permission of the Belarusian president,” Lukashenko said.
“Are you willing to allow the use of nuclear weapons?”
‘I’m all set, why else do I have these weapons? But only as the boot of one [foreign] soldier enters Belarus. We have no plans to attack anyone.”
Human rights organizations estimate that there are currently 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus.
Alexander Lukashenko had told me earlier that there were none.
But when he spoke to me today (perhaps unintentionally) he used the phrase “political prisoner” when talking about the small number released in recent months.
Some commentators have interpreted the release as a message from Lukashenko to the West that he seeks better relations.
He denies that.
“We have released political prisoners on humanitarian grounds,” he says. “It was mainly the elderly and sick. That’s it.
“This is not a step towards improving relations with you. If you don’t want relationships with us, that’s fine. We’ll be fine without you.”
