Belarusian state media on Monday published a photo of President Oleksandr Lukashenka, who is reportedly seriously ill. If the image is authentic, it will be his first public appearance after almost a week during which it was assumed that the 68-year-old dictator was suffering from health problems, Sky News writes.

The state-run Telegram channel “Pul Perego”, which reports on Lukashenka’s activities, reported that the Belarusian president paid a working visit to the base of the Air Force Central Command on Monday.

In the published photo, Lukashenko appears with a bandage on his left arm, similar to the one he wore at the May 9 parade in Moscow, when he was last seen in public.

Belarusian President Oleksandr Lukashenko, who has not been seen in public since Tuesday, also failed to appear at a ceremony in the country’s capital Minsk on Sunday, prompting speculation that the veteran leader is seriously ill, Reuters writes.

The state news agency BelTA reported that Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko read Lukashenko’s message during the annual ceremony of swearing allegiance to the flag of the former USSR by young people.

The reasons for Lukashenka’s absence five days after he felt unwell and missed some events on the occasion of Victory Day in Moscow, BelTA did not report.

In addition, for the first time in his long presidency, Lukashenko was absent from the anniversary event in Minsk. Lukashenka’s office refused to comment on his absence in public space, Reuters notes.

“He’s just sick, he probably needs rest”

According to the information of the opposition information channel Euroradio, Lukashenko was taken to an elite clinic in Minsk on Saturday.

The Russian online publication “Podyem” quotes a high-ranking member of the lower house of the Duma, Konstantin Zatulin, who said that “(Lukashenko) just fell ill… and apparently needs rest.”

The Russian newspaper “Kommersant” also published an article about Lukashenka’s health with reference to Zatulin and Belarusian opposition media. The Russian press rarely publishes articles about the state of health of the leaders of Russia or neighboring allied countries.

Lukashenko, 68, has ruled Belarus since 1994, using the police to quell protests, while the judiciary shuts down dissident media outlets and sentences those who oppose Lukashenko’s regime to years in prison.