August 03, 2020

Ever-Resilient Lukashenko


Ever-Resilient Lukashenko
We just hope the dog is fine. CTV.by

Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko announced earlier this week that he had been exposed to coronavirus, but that he'd been asymptomatic, like, according to him, 97 percent of the Belarusian population.

Lukashenko made the announcement at a large gathering of army officers, in which no one was wearing a mask and social distancing was not practiced.

Belarus, Russia's "little brother" country to its west, made headlines earlier this year by failing to heed recommended pandemic measures. Lukashenko himself downplayed the threat, saying that it was "better to die standing than live on your knees."

He also urged the population to sweat out the virus by working in the country, which, to his credit, he did.

When exactly Lukashenko had the virus is not reported, but we can't dismiss the possibility that he was sick at one of the largest Victory Day parades in modern history, attended by several heads of state and thousands of foreign troops.

Regardless, coronavirus is the least of Lukashenko's worries: an upcoming election could mean the end of his 25-year run as president. We'll see.

You Might Also Like

Belarusan Election
  • May 01, 2006

Belarusan Election

On March 19, according to official data, current Belarusan President Alexander Lukashenko was reelected with 82% of the popular vote. But many voters disagreed with these results.
Russia and Belarus
  • March 20, 2002

Russia and Belarus

Background and current information regarding the Russia - Belarus merger and why the former Soviet state is of importance to Russia.
Corruption, Crimea, and Coronavirus
  • July 23, 2020

Corruption, Crimea, and Coronavirus

This week, Spotify comes to Russia, Crimea is a hot tourist destination (like always), and three cases of corruption: one big, one small, and one straight out of a spy movie.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955