Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, often referred to as "Europe's last dictator," made a controversial statement during a Christmas service on January 7.
Speaking at a church event, Lukashenko compared his regime to Ukraine's democratic governance, asserting that "a dictatorship like in Belarus is better than democracy like in Ukraine."
This was reported by BelTA, the state news agency.
Lukashenko claimed his country had managed to stay afloat while others faltered.
“All these years, we’ve been walking on thin ice, yet we never broke through or fell into freezing waters. That is our greatest achievement,” he stated.
Addressing criticism of his authoritarian leadership, Lukashenko added, “Let them call it a dictatorship here. It’s better to have a dictatorship like in Belarus than a democracy like in Ukraine.”
A Divided Perspective
Belarus, closely aligned with Russia, has faced criticism for its role in supporting Moscow’s military operations, including hosting Russian forces and allowing missile launches into Ukraine.
Despite Lukashenko’s claims, Belarus’s political system has been widely condemned by international organizations for suppressing dissent, curbing free speech, and conducting unfair elections.
The remarks also highlight ongoing tensions between Minsk and Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously disclosed details of a conversation with Lukashenko during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyy, Lukashenko apologized for allowing Russian missile strikes from Belarusian territory, even offering Ukraine the option to retaliate against Belarus.
