Lukashenko Claims He and Putin Joke About Being the 'Bigger Dictator'

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently joke and argue over which of them is the greater dictator, according to remarks made during a September 17 speech to youth leaders in Minsk. The comments were delivered at an event titled "Youth. Belarus. Future."

Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, referred to himself as "the last dictator in Europe" and stated that he and Putin "often argue, jokingly, about which of us is the bigger dictator." Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since 1999.

The Belarusian leader's remarks underscore the close alignment between Minsk and Moscow. While Belarus has not committed ground troops to the war in Ukraine, it serves as a strategic staging ground for Russian forces. According to reports, Belarus provides Russia with key weapons components and allows military strikes from its territory. A railway construction project near the Ukraine border in Belarus's Gomel Oblast has also been noted for its capacity to handle military trains.

Lukashenko also addressed the topic of political succession in Belarus during his speech, asserting that no one is currently prepared to take over the country's leadership. He dismissed the notion that he is clinging to power, stating that he has had "his fill of this power." He claimed he became a dictator because he "stood up against the entire ‘civilized world.’"

Western nations continue to apply economic pressure on Minsk. However, despite international sanctions, Lukashenko announced in early September that Belarus had begun selling potash, a key fertilizer component, to the United States. U.S. sanctions on Belarusian potash were lifted following recent releases of political prisoners, although European Union sanctions remain in effect.