In an interview with Time magazine published earlier this month, Belarusian autocrat Alyaksandr Lukashenka declared that he has no intention of running for the presidency in the future. Some might wonder if Lukashenka, who has held onto power since 1994 through several fraudulent elections, seriously means it. For most Belarusians, however, such claims carry little weight. Over the past three decades of his rule, he’s said this dozens of times. This latest declaration, however, comes amid Lukashenka’s broader efforts to reshape his international image. In the past few months, he has managed to make himself relevant by drawing interest from Washington in his role as an intermediary with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenka has been selling the idea that he knows Putin better than most world leaders, having dealt with him for years. Backchannel communication through Lukashenka, for instance, played a role in making this month’s Alaska summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump possible. In this context, Lukashenka, who is currently under US and European Union sanctions, is likely to say anything that he believes will make him appear more palatable to Washington and Brussels, especially with the prospect of sanctions relief as a reward for his role as a middleman. So, how should Lukashenka’s comments suggesting this might be his final term in office be viewed?
Lukashenka’s succession game: Promises, power, and the illusion of an exit – Atlantic Council
