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Amid rumors about the health of President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus, state news media on Monday published photos of him, in an apparent attempt to reduce speculation that he is seriously ill.
Lukashenko, a key Kremlin ally who usually receives daily coverage from state-controlled news media featuring photos and videos, has not been seen since last Tuesday, when he attended events in Moscow and the Belarusian capital, Minsk, celebrating the Soviet Union. victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
He skipped Sunday’s annual ceremony in Minsk for Belarus’ flag day, an event he usually talks about, leaving the prime minister to read a statement.
Europe’s longest-serving leader and an avid sportsman, Mr Lukashenko, 68, has since 1994 ruled Belarus, a former Soviet republic dependent on Moscow for financial aid and security, with a firm grip. In the past, he enjoyed showing off his good health in public by rollerblading, playing ice hockey, and giving long speeches outside, regardless of the weather.
But the official Belarusian news agency, Belta, and state television have spent the past week processing old photos and film clips.
Ukrainian officials and the media spread heartening rumors about the health of Mr Lukashenko, who is widely reviled in Ukraine for allowing Russia to use Belarus, which borders both countries, as a staging ground for a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The opposition news outlet, Euroradio, reported that Mr Lukashenko had been taken by motorcade to a Minsk clinic on Saturday, but the country has yet to make an official comment on his health.
In what could be the most conclusive sign that he is ill, although it may not be serious, Russia’s tightly controlled news media – which rarely comment on the health of its leaders – have now reported that Mr Lukashenko is unwell, said Konstantin Zatulin, senior. Russian legislature working with Belarus and other former Soviet republics.
Mr Zatulin was quoted as saying of Mr Lukashenko that “he is sick but not with Covid.” He gave no details and downplayed Mr. Lukashenko’s condition.
On Monday, Belta said Mr Lukashenko visited the air force command post and published what he called a photo of the leader that day. It was not immediately possible to confirm whether the photo was taken on Monday.
The closed secrets of countries like Belarus and Russia allow wild rumors about their leaders to fly. For example, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is regularly rumored to have various fatal diseases.
The secrecy also makes it difficult to explain the deaths of officials who appear to be in good health, like Vladimir Makei, the veteran Belarusian foreign minister whose sudden death in November sparked feverish speculation that he might have been killed.
Natalia Novosolova and Riley Mellen contributed reporting.
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