Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko misses event, fuelling health rumours

Belarus' person Alexander Lukashenko has missed a large authorities celebration, further fuelling wellness speculation.

The autocratic president, 68, usually speaks publically astatine the yearly National Flag, Emblem and Anthem Day lawsuit but his premier curate work a connection connected his behalf connected Sunday.

Last week, Mr Lukashenko near Moscow soon aft Victory Day parade, skipping luncheon with President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Lukashenko looked visibly tired, and his close manus was bandaged.

He was past seen successful nationalist laying flowers successful the superior Minsk during Belarus' ain Victory Day celebrations connected 9 May - a fewer hours aft returning from the Russian capital.

An absorption Telegram transmission reported that Mr Lukashenko visited a statesmanlike aesculapian centre conscionable extracurricular Minsk connected Saturday nighttime - but this accusation has not been independently verified.

Mr Lukashenko's bureau has truthful acold made nary comments connected the issue.

Often described successful the West arsenic Europe's past dictator, Mr Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994, suppressing immoderate dissent.

In 2020, helium was proclaimed arsenic the victor of statesmanlike elections, which were denounced by the absorption arsenic a sham.

Thousand of radical were aboriginal arrested and brutally beaten by riot constabulary and KGB information work agents during wide anti-government protests that rocked the country.

However, Mr Lukashenko managed to enactment successful power, backed by Russia.

Last year, helium supported President Putin's full-scale penetration of Ukraine, offering Belarus arsenic a launchpad for Russian troops to transverse into Ukraine and allowing Russian warfare planes to transportation retired strikes from Belarusian soil.