The Day of the Flag, Emblem and Anthem in the Republic of Belarus was marked without the presence of President Alexander Lukashenko. On-screen congratulations were delivered on his behalf by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko during a SB TV broadcast, signaling a formal but unusual absence from the ceremony itself.
Meanwhile, the Belarusian newspaper Nasha Niva reported that, on the eve of the holiday, Lukashenko’s presidential cortege spent approximately two hours near a private hospital outside Minsk. Observers noted no extraordinary activity, only that a health issue had arisen. A spokesperson for the Kremlin described the situation as a personal illness that did not involve infection; the president nonetheless chose to travel to Moscow and later organize events in Minsk the very same day. Some analysts suggested that a period of rest might be necessary, rather than implying anything more severe [Citation: Belarussian press brief, 2024].
Lukashenko has missed public engagements for the fifth consecutive day. His last public appearance occurred in Moscow, where he attended a Victory Day parade and laid a wreath. Unlike other presidents who joined the parade, he did not walk from the podium to the Unknown Soldier monument and instead rode a short distance in a security electric vehicle, smiling as he passed by, according to observers [State media summaries, 2024].
During an informal breakfast in the Kremlin with CIS leaders after the flower-laying ceremony, Lukashenko was reportedly absent once again, with the Russian President’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, explaining that he had returned to Belarus for ceremonial duties there [Reportage: CIS summit coverage, 2024].
Hours later on May 9, Lukashenko laid a wreath at a Minsk monument on Victory Square. The address, initially planned as a solemn speech, was delivered instead by Viktor Khrenin, the Belarusian Minister of Defense, while Lukashenko stood nearby, illustrating a pattern of delegation or alteration in public appearances during the holiday period [Belarusian state media notes, 2024].
A Belarusian insider cited by Nasha Niva claimed Lukashenko had contracted influenza. An interlocutor close to Lukashenko’s protocol reportedly indicated some colleagues also fell ill, suggesting that rumors about a virus had circulated but were not confirmed. The account warned that bacterial complications can arise if flu symptoms are not properly managed, underscoring the fragility of health rumors within high-level leadership circles [Belarusian press interviews, 2024].
A separate source noted that since May 9 the president had entrusted his direct representatives with key engagements, a move that some observers interpreted as a cautious approach to public duties during a health event window [Minsk press summaries, 2024].
Official statements from Belarusian authorities did not disclose Lukashenko’s health status. Informal reports from the president’s press service described him as “working with documents,” a phrasing that has become a familiar refrain in contexts of tight-lipped leadership. Analysts quoted in Rise described the likelihood that he remains active in official matters, even as appearances appear scarce [State media summaries, 2024].
Zerkalo.io noted the rarity of frank health updates about Lukashenko, pointing out that public discussions about his condition have appeared only a handful of times over roughly a decade. The pattern of limited medical disclosures has fueled speculation about the balance of power and the risk of political instability when a central figure’s health is uncertain [Domestic political analysis, 2024].
Political analysts emphasized the sensitivities surrounding any health claims about Lukashenko, explaining that acknowledging illness could be perceived as weakening within a system where the leader’s strength is closely tied to the stability of the entire power structure. The concern is that acknowledging illness might trigger questions about succession or power dynamics, prompting cautious secrecy among the ruling elite [Commentary: regional analysts, 2024].
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lukashenko argued against quarantine measures, urging people to maintain normal life and to rely on simple measures such as breathing fresh air to combat the virus. He famously questioned the utility of lockdowns and border closures, advocating a stance that prioritized everyday routines and warned about the social and economic costs of aggressive containment. He described crowded indoor spaces as dangerous due to a perceived “virus atmosphere,” and he was skeptical of arguments favoring isolation or secrecy. In his own words, he encouraged regular handwashing, a daily routine, visits to the bathhouse, and even the use of vodka as a preventive measure for ARVI. He admitted, somewhat ruefully, that he did not drink alcohol himself but jokingly suggested that people might use vodka as a contagious-exposure do-it-yourself approach to reduce the virus’s impact, though he clarified this was not something to apply at work concerns.
These remarks illustrate a broader pattern of public messaging that blends health discourse with political narratives, shaping how leadership communicates during health crises and how the public interprets those messages [Public health commentary, 2020s].