The Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, skipped the public festivities marking the nation’s Flag Day, the coat of arms, and the national anthem. The ceremony was carried by Satellite TV, bringing the event into homes across the country and beyond.
On the official site of the presidency, Lukashenko’s congratulations were presented, while his remarks at the ceremony were read aloud by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, ensuring the address reached the public despite the absence of the president himself.
Since the May 9 events in Moscow and Minsk, Lukashenko has not attended public gatherings. Even at the informal CIS leaders’ breakfast held in the Kremlin following the Victory Parade in Moscow, the presence of the Belarusian head of state was conspicuously missing; the Russian press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, who usually speaks on such occasions, did not appear to accompany the Belarusian delegation, underscoring a quiet shift in public appearances.
A Belarusian edition of Nasha Niva reported on May 13 that Lukashenko had halted his public appearances, with rumors circulating that flu symptoms could be involved. The report notes that some circles within the Belarusian leadership discuss a possible health-related explanation for the president’s reduced public presence. (Belarusian edition Nasha Niva, May 13)