Belarusian leader Oleksandr Lukashenko on Thursday dismissed the idea that he is “Europe’s last dictator,” saying he is not a dictator, but if he was, he certainly wouldn’t be the last, Reuters reported.
Reuters reports that Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, said in an interview in 2012 that he really enjoys the notoriety the nickname brings.
But when he was asked about it again on Thursday at a press conference he held in Minsk, to which representatives of the international press were also invited, he said the journalists should apologize for asking him that.
“Of [sintagma] “The last dictator of Europe, you must apologize to me today,” he told reporters at the Independence Palace in Minsk.
“I am not a dictator, and if I was, I will not be the last,” he declared, adding, however, that “power is not given to wallow in the mud.”
“I don’t decide whether I’m in power or not (…) people entrusted me with this high position,” he defended himself.
Oleksandr Lukashenko says he will give up power, but…
It will be recalled that the European Union does not recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate president of Belarus, accusing him of large-scale falsification of the presidential elections in August 2020. The Belarusian electoral authorities then declared Lukashenka the winner, having won 80% of the vote.
This led to an outbreak of unprecedented protests in Belarus, the demonstrations were brutally suppressed by Lukashenka’s security forces. Most of those who challenged him were imprisoned or forced to flee the country.
Speaking on Thursday, Lukashenko said the number of people imprisoned in Belarus had dropped to 22,000, down from 50,000 when he came to power nearly 29 years ago.
“I guess I’m not a very strong dictator,” he joked.
The leader from Minsk also had a moment of introspection, saying he thought about what it would be like to live the rest of his life away from power.
“Sometimes I ask myself this question, but then another thing stops me: what will happen in the future? I don’t consider myself irreplaceable, but what will happen if a new person destroys everything?” Oleksandr Lukashenko said.
Last year, the European Union imposed new sanctions against his regime over his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Source: Hot News
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