Alexander Lukashenko - The African Mirror

Jul

2023

Mercenary chief Prigozhin back in Russia, Belarus’s Lukashenko says

BELARUSIAN President Alexander Lukashenko said that the mutinous chief of Russia's Wagner group was still in Russia with thousands of fighters, but dismissed speculation that President Vladimir Putin would have Yevgeny Prigozhin killed. Lukashenko helped broker a deal to end last month's mutiny, the gravest challenge to Putin in his 23 years in power, under which Prigozhin was supposed to stand down his mercenaries and move to Belarus in exchange for Putin dropping charges. But in comments that raised questions about the deal, Lukashenko said Prigozhin and his fighters were still in Russia, and that it was possible they would…

Jun

2023

By GUY FAULCONBRIDGE and LIDIA KELLY

Putin wanted to ‘wipe out’ Wagner chief Prigozhin during mutiny attempt, says Lukashenko

WORLD

BELARUSIAN President Alexander Lukashenko said he persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in response to what the Kremlin cast as a mutiny that pushed Russia towards civil war. Putin initially vowed to crush the mutiny, comparing it to the wartime turmoil that ushered in the revolution of 1917 and then a civil war, but hours later a deal was clinched to allow Prigozhin and some of his fighters to go to Belarus. Prigozhin flew to Belarus from Russia on Tuesday. While describing his Saturday conversation with Putin, Lukashenko used the Russian criminal slang…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Mercenary chief Prigozhin starts exile in Belarus, Putin praises Russian troops

WORLD

RUSSIAN mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin arrived in Belarus under a deal that ended a brief mutiny by his fighters, as President Vladimir Putin praised his armed forces for averting a civil war. A plane linked to Prigozhin and believed to be carrying him into exile was shown on a flight tracking service taking off from the southern Russian city of Rostov early on Tuesday and landing in Belarus. "I see Prigozhin is already flying in on this plane," state news agency BELTA quoted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as saying. "Yes, indeed, he is in Belarus today." In Moscow, Putin sought to reassert…

Jun

2023

By ANDREW OSBORN

Putin says Russia positions nuclear bombs in Belarus as warning to West

WORLD

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin said that his deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, something he confirmed for the first time had already happened, was a reminder to the West that it could not inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin said Russian tactical nuclear warheads had already been delivered to close ally Belarus, but stressed he saw no need for Russia to resort to nuclear weapons for now. "As you know we were negotiating with our ally, (Belarusian President (Alexander) Lukashenko, that we would move a part of these tactical nuclear…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Belarus president offers Zimbabwe trucks and tractors on state visit

NEWS

BELARUSIAN President Alexander Lukashenko offered Zimbabwe more tractors, combine harvesters and trucks during a visit to the southern African country, a fellow ally of Russia. Belarus and Zimbabwe cooperate closely, especially in agriculture, and Lukashenko said the offer to Harare was part of a farm mechanization programme worth around $66 million. The Belarus president, a staunch supporter of Russia, has been received with pomp and fanfare for the three-day state visit which started on Monday. Asked whether he was under any obligation to step up support for Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, Lukashenko told a news conference that Belarus…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Belarus opposition leader hails world support after journalist arrest

WORLD

ANDRIUS SYTAS BELARUS opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Saturday hailed support from around the world after Minsk scrambled a warplane to intercept a flight and arrested a dissident journalist on board. Belarus has been subject to EU and U.S. sanctions since President Alexander Lukashenko cracked down on pro-democracy protests after a disputed election last year. But his decision to intercept an international airliner in Belarusian airspace and arrest the 26-year-old has brought threats of more serious action. Most European countries told their aircraft to avoid Belarus airspace and banned Belarus carriers from their skies. "I am very touched by the…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Belarus leader says detained journalist was plotting ‘bloody rebellion’

WORLD

TOM BALMFORTH and MARIA KESELYOVA BELARUSIAN President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that a journalist pulled off a plane that was forced to land in Minsk had been plotting a rebellion, and he accused the West of waging a hybrid war against him. In his first public remarks since a Belarusian warplane intercepted a Ryanair flight on Sunday between European Union members Greece and Lithuania, he showed no hint of backing down from a confrontation with countries that accuse him of air piracy. "As we predicted, our ill-wishers from outside the country and from inside the country changed their methods of…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Hope is thin as LGBT+ activists join Belarus protests for change

LGBT+

NATALIE VIKHROV LGBT+ activists in Belarus hope mass protests for democratic rule in Belarus will also help deliver long-awaited gay rights and rid the former Soviet state of homophobia. But they concede such hopes might be far off in their deeply conservative country, with no anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBT+ people. Even some of their fellow protesters are homophobic, they say, expecting a long fight before glimpsing equality. President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for a sixth term at a secret ceremony on Wednesday, sparking new demonstrations by a restive population protesting his claim on power. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Belarusian protesters, defying army, flood Minsk

WORLD

TENS of thousands of protesters demanding Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko step down defied a warning from the military and flooded into Minsk, briefly gathering near the president's residence, before dispersing peacefully. The veteran leader denounced the demonstrators as "rats" and was seen in state media footage wearing body armour and holding a rifle, projecting an unyielding image amid the huge nationwide demonstrations that erupted after a disputed election on August 9. The protests have provided the biggest challenge yet to Lukashenko's 26 years at the helm and tested the loyalty of his security forces. Minsk's streets turned red and white…