Alarms are sounding from Minsk as reports surface about the hospitalization of President Alexander Lukashenko. Independent Belarusian media such as Euroradio indicate he is currently receiving care at the Central Republican Medical Clinic, commonly referred to as “the president,” since Saturday at 19:00 local time. While rumors circulate about a serious health condition, no verified source has confirmed such details.
Photographs from the May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow show Lukashenko with a bandaged hand, followed by an earlier departure from Russia. On the same night, a planned dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin was canceled. Authorities have not released public updates for five days, fueling a wide range of speculation about his condition and timetable for public appearances.
Reuters reported that Lukashenko’s hand was bandaged when he arrived in Moscow on May 9. The absence from public events became noticeable on a day that Belarus marks Flag Day, prompting Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko to stand in for the president during the official speech. State media outlets such as Belta have continued to report as if Lukashenko were present, and there has been no official image showing him at the capital’s commemorations.
Historically, Lukashenko has been one of Moscow’s most steadfast allies, even amid occasional disagreements. During the 2020 protests, when opposition groups accused the president of electoral fraud and called for new elections, Putin offered support and helped shape the narrative by leveraging state media channels. The relationship remains mutual; Lukashenko is among the few European leaders who has not severed ties with Moscow completely. This closeness has drawn sanctions from Western countries, though those measures were lighter than those imposed on Russia. In the early stages of the conflict with Ukraine, Belarusian territory was used for military advances into northern Ukraine, including operations around Kyiv and the Chernobyl area. Before the February 24, 2022, invasion, Belarusian forces participated in joint drills with the Russian military under various initiatives.
“Little Belarus”
Minsk’s relationship with Moscow has long shaped both its economy and its security posture. Russia has provided soft loans and favorable terms for raw materials to support the alliance. In recent times, the Kremlin has indicated it would defend Belarus’s territorial integrity, signaling a willingness to deploy weapons on Belarusian soil should the need arise. This evolving dynamic further cements the pair as key partners in regional policy, defense arrangements, and economic strategy.
The two states participate in a Union State framework that envisions closer integration in areas like borders and economic policy. At present, Russians and Belarusians can travel with their national passports, and visa arrangements for visitors have been relaxed to streamline cross-border movement. Upcoming discussions have included proposals for a shared currency and deeper political integration, though Lukashenko has repeatedly resisted the notion of becoming a vassal, describing his goal as maintaining a friendship with Moscow rather than subordination.
As Belarus navigates its role between autonomy and alliance, questions continue to surface about the balance of power, leadership visibility, and the potential implications for regional stability. The evolving relationship with Russia remains a central factor in Minsk’s domestic and international decisions, shaping perceptions among citizens and international observers alike.