Alexander Lukashenko graduated from Alexandria secondary school.
College/University
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
Mogilev, Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko graduated from the Mogilev Pedagogical Institute (now Mogilev State A. Kuleshov University) in 1975.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1985
Ulitsa Michurina 5, Horki, Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko graduated from the Belarusian Agricultural Academy in Horki in 1985.
Career
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1994
Moscow, Russia
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin (R) exchanging smiles with President Alexander Lukashenko of former Soviet republic Belarus in Moscow, Russia.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1995
Moscow, Russia
President of Russia Boris Eltsin, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (R-L) during a walk round the Moscow Kremlin.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1996
Jacques Chirac Welcomes Alexandre Lukashenko
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1996
Gomel, Belarus
President Alexander Lukashenko visits orphanage at the women penal colony.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1998
Kemerovo, Russia
President of Belorus Alexander Lukashenko lights a candle in a Christian orthodox chapel.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1998
Murmansk, Russia
Alexander Lukashenko (C) and Murmansk Region Governor Yuri Yevdokimov (L) aboard the Sovetskiy Soyuz nuclear-powered icebreaker.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1998
Raubichi, Belarus
President Alexander Lukashenko (L) spends his free time skiing.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
1998
Minsk, Belarus
President Alexander Lukashenko (3rd L front) poses for a group photo with the Russian State Duma football team.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2006
Kremlin, Moscow, Russia
Alexander Lukashenko (L) meets Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on November 10, 2006.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2008
Megasport Arena, Moscow, Russia
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) in action during the match between World Ice Hockey Stars and HC Gazprom Export at the Megasport Arena on December 19, 2008, in Moscow, Russia. The friendly match was dedicated to the legendary hockey coach, Anatoly Tarasov of Russia.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2009
Baranovichi, Belarus
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrive at the military polygon to watch combined military exercises on September 29, 2009, near Baranovichi, Belarus. The West-2009 combined Russian-Belarusian military exercises involved around 6,500 Belarusian troops, 6,000 Russian troops, 103 airborne craft and some 470 armored fighting vehicles.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2010
Moscow, Russia, Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus attend a ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier to commemorate the 65th anniversary of VE Day, on May 8, 2010, in Moscow, Russia.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2012
Moscow, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands as they attend the Summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) on December 19, 2012, in Moscow, Russia.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2013
Grodno, Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (C) and his son Nikolai watch joint Russian-Belarussian military exercises at the polygon on September 26, 2013, in Grodno, Belarus.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2013
Konstantinovsky Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a meeting at Konstantinovsky Palace on March 15, 2013, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Putin and Lukashenko met as part of the Union State's Supreme State Council summit.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2013
Minsk, Belarus
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a meeting October 24, 2013, in Minsk, Belarus. Leaders of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Tajikistan have arrived in Minsk to attend the Summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Summit of Eurasian Economic Community.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2015
Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in the Grand Kremlin Palace, March 3, 2015, in Moscow, Russia. Lukashenko is visiting Moscow to participate in the Russian-Belarussian State Council.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2015
Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in the Grand Kremlin Palace, March 3, 2015, in Moscow, Russia. Lukashenko has arrived in Moscow to participate in the Russian-Belarussian State Council.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2015
Minsk, Belarus
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko pose for a photo during a summit on February 11, 2015, in Minsk, Belarus. The world leaders met to discuss a cease-fire in Ukraine.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2015
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic pose for a family photo during the international conference on Policy of Neutrality: international cooperation for peace, security and development in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on December 12, 2015.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2015
Ufa, Russia
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (R) and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko greet each other prior to the welcome ceremony for the leaders of the invited states during BRICS/SCO Summits - Russia 2015 on July 09, 2015 in Ufa, Russia.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2015
Palace of Independence, Minsk, Belarus
Indian President Shri Pranab Mukherjee (L) with Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko (R) shake hands in the Palace of Independence in Minsk, Belarus, 03 June 2015. Shri Pranab Mukherjee pays three-day official visit to Belarus.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2016
Istanbul Congress Center, Istanbul, Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (R) shake hands during 1f3th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit at Istanbul Congress Center (ICC), in Istanbul, Turkey on April 14, 2016. Istanbul hosts the two-day 13th OIC Summit on the April 14-15, 2016, with the attendance by prime ministers and presidents from over 30 countries.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2016
Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on September 29, 2016, in Beijing, China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Alexander Lukashenko, the President of the Republic of Belarus will pay a state visit to China from September 28 to 30.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2016
Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, Vatican
Pope Francis meets President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and his son Nikolai Lukashenko (L) during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace on May 21, 2016, in Vatican City, Vatican.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2016
Beijing, China
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) accompanies Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) to view a guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People on September 29, 2016, in Beijing, China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will pay a state visit to China from September 28 to 30.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2016
Yerevan, Armenia
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) shakes hands with Armenian President Serge Sargsyan (R) during the welcoming ceremony of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 14, 2016.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2016
Minsk Mosque, Minsk, Belarus
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L), President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (2nd R), Turkish Head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, Mehmet Gormez (L) and Mufti of the Republic of Belarus Abu-Bekir hazrat Shabanovich (R) attend the opening ceremony of the Minsk Mosque in Minsk, Belarus on November 11, 2016.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2016
Independence Palace, Minsk, Belarus
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd R) and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (L) plant a tree on the yard of the Independence Palace in Minsk, Belarus on November 11, 2016.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Beijing, China
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko attend a summit at the Belt and Road Forum on May 15, 2017, in Beijing, China.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Minsk, Belarus
The Big Conversation with the President, a meeting of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko with members of the public, Belarusian and foreign journalists.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Kiev, Ukraine
Alexander Lukashenko, on the left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, on the right, talking during an official meeting in Kiev. Ukraine, Friday, July 21, 2017.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Minsk, Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) greets a female protocol employee (L) as Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) looks on during the CSTO Summit on November 30, 2017, in Minsk, Belarus. Leaders of 6 former Soviet states have gathered in Minsk to participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSCTO) Summit.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Chernobyl nuclear plant, Ukraine
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (R) speaks in front the new Safe Confinement over the 4th block of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, during the 31st anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Ukraine, 26 April, 2017.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Ala-Archa State residence, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Alexander Lukashenko (L) greets Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev (L) during a welcoming ceremony prior to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) meeting at Ala-Archa State residence, April 14, 2017, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Leaders of post-Soviet countries have arrived in Bishkek to participate in the summits of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
ASS Russian News Agency, Moscow, Russia
Russian News Agency First Deputy General Director Mikhail Gusman (L) and Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko seen outside the TASS Russian News Agency.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Minsk, Belarus
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko delivers his annual address to the Belarusian people and the Belarusian National Assembly.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Presidential Palace, Khartoum, Sudan
Alexander Lukashenko meets President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir (not seen) at Presidential Palace in Khartoum, Sudan on January 17, 2017.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2017
Ittihadiyah Palace, Cairo, Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) welcomes Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) with an official ceremony at the al Ittihadiyah Palace in Cairo, Egypt on 15 January 2017.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2018
Minsk, Belarus
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Alexander Lukashenko shake hands for Steinmeier's departure after the inauguration of the Malyj Trostenez Memorial. Malyj Trostenez was an Nazi extermination camp on former Soviet Union territory. Like many other extermination camps on Soviet territory, this camp is just known to few people in Germany and Europe.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2018
Sochi, Russia
Secretary Tigran Sarkisyan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov pose for a photo during the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Summit May 14, 2018, in Sochi, Russia.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2018
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia
Alexander Lukashenko arrives during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium on June 14, 2018, in Moscow, Russia.
The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (L) and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin visit the village of Aleksandriya in Shklov District, Mogilev Region.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2018
Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (R) shakes hands with President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko (L) as they pose for a photo following an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia on March 22, 2018.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
2018
Alexander Lukashenko (C) awards CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev (R) with the Order of Honour during an extended meeting of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Council of Foreign Ministers.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
Smolensk Region, Russia
Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin open customs border between the two countries.
Gallery of Alexander Lukashenko
Gomel Region, Belarus
President Alexander Lukashenko (L) visits a peasant house in a region most severely affected by river floods. Lukashenko personally supervises rescue operations in emergency areas.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin (R) exchanging smiles with President Alexander Lukashenko of former Soviet republic Belarus in Moscow, Russia.
President of Russia Boris Eltsin, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (R-L) during a walk round the Moscow Kremlin.
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) in action during the match between World Ice Hockey Stars and HC Gazprom Export at the Megasport Arena on December 19, 2008, in Moscow, Russia. The friendly match was dedicated to the legendary hockey coach, Anatoly Tarasov of Russia.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrive at the military polygon to watch combined military exercises on September 29, 2009, near Baranovichi, Belarus. The West-2009 combined Russian-Belarusian military exercises involved around 6,500 Belarusian troops, 6,000 Russian troops, 103 airborne craft and some 470 armored fighting vehicles.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus attend a ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier to commemorate the 65th anniversary of VE Day, on May 8, 2010, in Moscow, Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands as they attend the Summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) on December 19, 2012, in Moscow, Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (C) and his son Nikolai watch joint Russian-Belarussian military exercises at the polygon on September 26, 2013, in Grodno, Belarus.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a meeting at Konstantinovsky Palace on March 15, 2013, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Putin and Lukashenko met as part of the Union State's Supreme State Council summit.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a meeting October 24, 2013, in Minsk, Belarus. Leaders of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Tajikistan have arrived in Minsk to attend the Summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Summit of Eurasian Economic Community.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in the Grand Kremlin Palace, March 3, 2015, in Moscow, Russia. Lukashenko is visiting Moscow to participate in the Russian-Belarussian State Council.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in the Grand Kremlin Palace, March 3, 2015, in Moscow, Russia. Lukashenko has arrived in Moscow to participate in the Russian-Belarussian State Council.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko pose for a photo during a summit on February 11, 2015, in Minsk, Belarus. The world leaders met to discuss a cease-fire in Ukraine.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic pose for a family photo during the international conference on Policy of Neutrality: international cooperation for peace, security and development in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on December 12, 2015.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (R) and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko greet each other prior to the welcome ceremony for the leaders of the invited states during BRICS/SCO Summits - Russia 2015 on July 09, 2015 in Ufa, Russia.
Indian President Shri Pranab Mukherjee (L) with Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko (R) shake hands in the Palace of Independence in Minsk, Belarus, 03 June 2015. Shri Pranab Mukherjee pays three-day official visit to Belarus.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (R) shake hands during 1f3th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit at Istanbul Congress Center (ICC), in Istanbul, Turkey on April 14, 2016. Istanbul hosts the two-day 13th OIC Summit on the April 14-15, 2016, with the attendance by prime ministers and presidents from over 30 countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on September 29, 2016, in Beijing, China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Alexander Lukashenko, the President of the Republic of Belarus will pay a state visit to China from September 28 to 30.
Pope Francis meets President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and his son Nikolai Lukashenko (L) during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace on May 21, 2016, in Vatican City, Vatican.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) accompanies Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) to view a guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People on September 29, 2016, in Beijing, China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will pay a state visit to China from September 28 to 30.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) shakes hands with Armenian President Serge Sargsyan (R) during the welcoming ceremony of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 14, 2016.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L), President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (2nd R), Turkish Head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, Mehmet Gormez (L) and Mufti of the Republic of Belarus Abu-Bekir hazrat Shabanovich (R) attend the opening ceremony of the Minsk Mosque in Minsk, Belarus on November 11, 2016.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd R) and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (L) plant a tree on the yard of the Independence Palace in Minsk, Belarus on November 11, 2016.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko attend a summit at the Belt and Road Forum on May 15, 2017, in Beijing, China.
The Big Conversation with the President, a meeting of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko with members of the public, Belarusian and foreign journalists.
Alexander Lukashenko, on the left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, on the right, talking during an official meeting in Kiev. Ukraine, Friday, July 21, 2017.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) greets a female protocol employee (L) as Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) looks on during the CSTO Summit on November 30, 2017, in Minsk, Belarus. Leaders of 6 former Soviet states have gathered in Minsk to participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSCTO) Summit.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (R) speaks in front the new Safe Confinement over the 4th block of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, during the 31st anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Ukraine, 26 April, 2017.
Alexander Lukashenko (L) greets Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev (L) during a welcoming ceremony prior to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) meeting at Ala-Archa State residence, April 14, 2017, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Leaders of post-Soviet countries have arrived in Bishkek to participate in the summits of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
Russian News Agency First Deputy General Director Mikhail Gusman (L) and Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko seen outside the TASS Russian News Agency.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) welcomes Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) with an official ceremony at the al Ittihadiyah Palace in Cairo, Egypt on 15 January 2017.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Alexander Lukashenko shake hands for Steinmeier's departure after the inauguration of the Malyj Trostenez Memorial. Malyj Trostenez was an Nazi extermination camp on former Soviet Union territory. Like many other extermination camps on Soviet territory, this camp is just known to few people in Germany and Europe.
Secretary Tigran Sarkisyan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov pose for a photo during the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Summit May 14, 2018, in Sochi, Russia.
Alexander Lukashenko arrives during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium on June 14, 2018, in Moscow, Russia.
The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (L) and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin visit the village of Aleksandriya in Shklov District, Mogilev Region.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (R) shakes hands with President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko (L) as they pose for a photo following an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia on March 22, 2018.
Alexander Lukashenko (C) awards CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev (R) with the Order of Honour during an extended meeting of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Council of Foreign Ministers.
President Alexander Lukashenko (L) visits a peasant house in a region most severely affected by river floods. Lukashenko personally supervises rescue operations in emergency areas.
Aleksander Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who espoused communist principles and who became president of the country in 1994. He is the current President of the Republic of Belarus, Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Belarus Armed Forces, Head of the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus, Head of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
Background
Alexander Lukashenko was born on August 30, 1954, in Kopys, Orsha district, Vitebsk region. His mother, Ekaterina Trofimovna Lukashenko (1924 – 2015), worked as a milkmaid. Growing up without father, he spent his childhood and got education in an ordinary Belarusian village.
Education
Alexander Lukashenko went to Alexandria secondary school. He graduated from the Mogilev Pedagogical Institute (now Mogilev State A. Kuleshov University) in 1975, and the Belarusian Agricultural Academy in Horki in 1985.
Till 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has held various positions in Komsomol and Communist party bodies, worked as deputy manager in “Znanie” in Skhlov, was given a post as deputy chair of a collective farm “Shock Worker” (Udarnik) and manager of enterprises of building materials. In 1987 he became a director of the state farm "Gorodets" in the Shklov district, Mogilev region.
Wherever he worked A. Lukashenko was coming forward with various initiatives, achieving positive results and enjoying broad support of the majority of workers. Given the established order of that time, his self-made and independent judgments could not but cause complications. As the President recollected later on, he had had two severe reprimands by the party organs - "because he could not keep silent."
Lukashenko entered the political arena in 1990 when he was elected a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus from Shklovsk Electoral District. The truth is that his first entrance into politics was in 1989: Alexander Lukashenko took part in the election of people's deputies of the USSR, but he lost to the Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Byelorussian USSR Vyacheslav Kebich with a difference of only 1% of votes.
As the deputy, Alexander Lukashenko has become a very prominent figure in the Belarusian Parliament. Being a great speaker, he could intelligibly explain his point of view, argue correctly and prove justifiability of his judgments, which sometimes strongly disagreed with the opinion of the parliamentary majority. But Alexander Lukashenko has always persisted in his convictions, especially those that were expounded in public. So, he was the only one of deputies who voted against ratification of the notorious agreements signed in Belovezhskaya Pushcha legitimizing the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In June 1993, Alexander Lukashenko rose to chair an anti-corruption committee in the Belarusian parliament. His active and uncompromising work there excited not only deputies, but the entire community. As the deputy took the liberty of speaking openly about what was guessed but people were afraid to discuss. And Alexander Lukashenko managed to prove conclusively that with enough courage and determination to fight against corruption the result can be. Thus, accused of improper business Stanislav Shushkevich was dismissed from the post of the Chairman of the Supreme Council.
Independent views of Alexander Lukashenko has predetermined the fact that he was not sharing the point of view of any existing political force in the first half of 1990. From the parliamentary rostrum he protested against the extreme radical ideas. Therefore on the first Belarusian elections Alexander Lukashenko came as an independent candidate. Unlike his opponents, he hadn’t promised the voters imminent prosperity, he hadn’t lulled people with legends about happiness in the nationalist isolation or about the sale of sovereignty to the West or East. Alexander Lukashenko honestly told people that the country is in crisis and his only desire and promise is to avert the state of the precipice. People who saw that they are on the brink felt confidence in the candidate who hadn’t played up and fawned on the public. He exposed the current problems everyone and appealed for solving them together. The support was colossal. On July 10, 1994, Alexander Lukashenko was elected the first president of Belarus. He received more than 80 percent of the electors' votes. And in 2001, people again have confirmed their choice. The second presidential election in Belarus was also finished with a landslide victory of Alexander Lukashenko: in the first round he gathered 75.62 percent of the vote.
Since his first victory A. Lukashenko did not lose preseidential elections. His terms are as follows:
- 1994-2001, with 80% of the vote;
- 2001-2006, with 75% of the vote;
- 2006-2011, with 86% of the vote;
- 2011-2015, with 90% of the vote;
- 2015-present, with 84% of the vote.
Permanent direct dialogue with the people is another distinctive feature of the Alexander Lukashenko’s style. The most important and principle for development of the state and society issues are submitted to referendum. So, the referendum in 1996 amended the Constitution. The decision on state symbols, the equal status of Russian and Belarusian languages, approval policy of integration with Russia, the land ownership, the date of the Independence Day and the attitude of society to maintain the death penalty. October 17, 2004 the Belarusian people again supported the course, conducted by Alexander Lukashenko, allowing him to run for the presidency on the next election in 2006.
Jokingly the president calls himself "an orthodox atheist", he is equally respectful and attentive to all 26 religions denominations that are presented in Belarus.
Politics
Lukashenko promotes himself as a "man of the people." Due to his style of rule, he is often informally referred to as bats'ka ("daddy"). He was elected chairman of the Belarusian Olympic Committee in 1997. Lukashenko wanted to rebuild Belarus when he took office; the economy was in freefall, due to declining industry and lack of demand for Belarusian goods. Lukashenko kept many industries under the control of the government. In 2001, he stated his intention to improve the social welfare of his citizens and to make Belarus "powerful and prosperous."
The economy of Belarus has been in a state of flux since Lukashenko's election in 1994. His economic policies aimed to prevent issues that occurred in other former Soviet states, such as the establishment of oligarchic structures and mass unemployment. The unemployment rate for the country at the end of 2011 was at 0.6% of the population (of 6.86 million eligible workers), a decrease from 1995 when unemployment was 2.9% with a working-eligible population of 5.24 million. The per-capita Gross national income rose from US$1,423 in 1993 to US$5,830 at the end of 2011. One major economic issue Lukashenko faced throughout his presidency was the value of the Belarusian ruble. For a time it was pegged to major foreign currencies, such as the euro, US dollar and the Russian ruble in order to maintain the stability of the Belarusian ruble. Yet, the currency has experienced free fall and also several rounds of devaluation. A major devaluation took place in 2011 after the government announced that average salaries would increase to US$500. The 2011 devaluation was the largest on record for the past twenty years according to the World Bank. Belarus also had to seek a bailout from international sources, and while it has received loans from China, receiving loans from the IMF and other agencies depend on how Belarus reforms its economy according to standards set by the IMF and other agencies.
Lukashenko's relationship with the EU has been strained, in part by choice and in part by his policies towards domestic opponents. Lukashenko's repression of opponents caused him to be called "Europe's last dictator" and resulted in the EU imposing visa sanctions on him and a range of Belarusian officials. At times, the EU has lifted sanctions as a way to encourage dialogue or gain concessions from Lukashenko. Since the EU adopted this policy of "change through engagement", it has supported economic and political reforms to help integrate the Belarusian state.
Lukashenko's relationship with Russia, once his powerful ally and vocal supporter, has significantly deteriorated. The run-up to the 2010 Belarusian presidential election was marked by a series of Russian media attacks on Lukashenko. Throughout July state-controlled channel NTV broadcast a multi-part documentary entitled "The Godfather" highlighting the suspicious disappearance of the opposition leaders Yury Zacharanka and Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatol Krasouski and journalist Dzmitry Zavadski during the late 1990s. Lukashenko called the media attack "dirty propaganda".
In 2015, Lukashenko sought to improve trade relations between Belarus and Latin America.
Belarus condemned the military intervention in Libya, and the foreign ministry stated that "The missile strikes and bombings on the territory of Libya go beyond Resolution 1973 of the UN Security Council and are in breach of its principal goal, ensuring safety of civilian population. The Republic of Belarus calls on the states involved with the military operation to cease, with immediate effect, the military operations which lead to human casualties. The settlement of the conflict is an internal affair of Libya and should be carried out by the Libyan people alone without military intervention from outside." They haven't recognized the National Transitional Council.
Upon hearing the news regarding the death of Muammar Gaddafi, President Alexander Lukashenko said "Aggression has been committed, and the country's leadership, not only Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed. And how was it killed? Well, if they had shot him in a battle, it's one thing, but they humiliated and tormented him, they shot at him, they violated him when he was wounded, they twisted his neck and arms, and then they tortured him to death. It's worse than the Nazis once did." He also condemned the current situation of Libya and was critical regarding the future of the country.
Views
Lukashenko believes that the president should be a conservative person and avoid using modern electronic gadgets such as an iPad or iPhone.
Quotations:
"We have to destroy stereotypes in people's minds that Belarus can be isolated or taught a lesson."
"It is always better to tell the truth, or say nothing at all. That is why I have almost none of it in my work."
"Mass media can crush anyone in one blow."
"Information wars have become the defining feature of the 21st century. Mass media have been turned into a weapon."
"It is difficult to evaluate the real scale of the brain drain problem because Belarusian scientists seek gainful employment in the private sector in addition to simply leaving the country. We should enable the most favorable conditions for the young generation. We should support youthful endeavors."
"Offer bold proposals, suggest breakthrough technologies! All your sensible initiatives will be supported."
"It's better to be a dictator than gay."
"I look at Obama, a young man, a good-looking person. That is my first impression, I feel sorry for him. He looks 100 percent like Lukashenko, when I came to power after the breakup of the Soviet Union."
"You need to control the country, and the main thing is not to ruin people's lives."
"We have always argued that attempts to isolate Belarus, like other countries, lead to a dead end. In this situation, everyone loses."
"Americans want to democratize us. OK, but why not go and democratize Saudi Arabia. Are we anything like Saudi Arabia? No, we are far from that. So why aren't they democratizing Saudi Arabia? Because they are bastards, but they are their bastards."
"Permit me to be immodest, but I did something for this country."
"We will remain independent for as long as our economy develops as needed. We won't be able to maintain our independence if we ruin the economy."
"We will ensure the interests of both the East and the West in Belarus. Don't try to rip us apart; don't try to make us collide with Russia or with the West."
"American democracy has two faces."
"We cannot allow any uncontrolled situation and destabilization in the country."
"Belarus is not a superpower, but we pay a lot of attention to sports."
"Dictators don't come from elections."
"I have always believed that genuine democracy is fairness."
"People call me an anti-reformer. That's absolutely stupid."
"The arms business is an absolutely acceptable business."
"Unlike in the U.K. or France or America, we've never used water cannon for mass riots dispersal."
"If you get a child when you're 50, you'll understand what children are."
"A president has - and I had it even before I became president - a very special relationship with the people, a connection based on feelings."
"A president has - and I had it even before I became president - a very special relationship with the people, a connection based on feelings."
"I understand reform to mean the perfection of what previous generations have already done. I'm not an advocate of destroying, 'kroshat,' and then selling like they do in Russia. That's how we can prevent the wild corruption in our state like they have in the other post-Soviet states."
"I'm an advocate of evolutionary, not revolutionary, changes."
"I believe it is important for both Russia and Europe that Belarus is a sovereign, independent state where Europeans can feel at home."
"There are some people bent on blowing up the situation in the country. I call them the fifth column. They are not an opposition. They want to stage a rebellion in the country. Their dream is to topple the government and overthrow the president."
"We are not a gigantic state, we do not have nuclear weapons, but our army is sufficiently capable to respond to any threat... Therefore, we will protect our patch of land, our statehood, and our independence."
"The color revolution virus affects only weak countries. Belarus does not have any breeding ground for this."
"Belarus will become the first government in the world that opens wide opportunities for the use of blockchain technology."
Interests
A. Lukashenko's dynamic character has brought him a variety of interests, especially those connected with healthy lifestyle, but his major hobbies are skiing and hockey. He also plays the accordion.
Sport & Clubs
Skiing (including downhill skiing and roller skiing), hockey, cross-country
Connections
Lukashenko married Galina Zhelnerovich, his high school sweetheart, in 1975. Later that year his oldest son, Viktor, was born. Their second son, Dmitry, was born in 1980. Galina lives separately in the family's house in the village near Shklov. Though they are still legally married, Galina Lukashenko has been estranged from her husband since shortly after he became president.
Lukashenko fathered an illegitimate son, Nikolai, who was born in 2004.