The media are speculating that Lukashenko took part in the Moscow parade despite the fact that he is not completely healthy – and in detailed cut-outs of photos from Moscow, they draw attention to his hand wrapped in gauze.
Moreover, after the parade, the Belarusian leader did not follow his Russian counterpart Putin and other officials to the tomb of the unknown soldier in the Kremlin’s Alexander Garden. The opposition website Naša Niva claims this, saying that Russia apparently forced Lukashenko to participate in Tuesday’s festivities and that an ambulance was transporting him from the Kremlin to the airport.
In addition to Lukashenka, Putin was accompanied to the tribune on Red Square by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, Sadyr Žaparov, Imomali Rakhmon, Serdar Berdymuhamedov, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Symbol of Russian loyalty
Putin appreciated the presence of the leaders of other post-Soviet countries, and Russian state television interpreted it as proof that the country is not in international isolation – despite the continued aggression of Russian troops in Ukraine.
Server Naša Niva drew attention to the fact that only Tajik President Rakhmon came to the Moscow parade with a St. George’s ribbon, considered a symbol of Russian patriotism and militarism.
The presidents of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan preferred flowers in the national colors, and Lukashenko the apple blossom, which he made a symbol of May 9 and Belarus. The presidents of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and the prime minister of Armenia did without symbols, Naša Niva added.
Lukashenka’s crowd
Belarusian political scientist Dmitry Bolkunets said on Telegram that after the Moscow parade, Lukashenko’s doctors faced a difficult task “to bring the leader back to his senses, to lubricate him, to lower his sugar level, to remove a distinct tremor of the head and to transport the body to Minsk Square,” where Tuesday evening was held Belarusian parade.
After the parade in front of the Kremlin, Lukashenko actually moved to Minsk for the celebrations, where he was supposed to give a traditional speech. But according to the server Medusa it did not happen and he had to be replaced by Defense Minister Chrenin.
In a roughly four-minute passage of live transmission broadcast by the Belarusian state agency Belta, Lukashenko can be seen getting out of a car, walking with an impenetrable expression behind a pair of soldiers carrying a large wreath to the monument to the heroes of the Second World War, before arranging it himself and bowing.
Minsk is considered Moscow’s closest ally. Although Belarus was not directly involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine, it provided Russia with its territory and airport to invade the neighboring country.