August 03, 2020

Ever-Resilient Lukashenko


Ever-Resilient Lukashenko
We just hope the dog is fine. CTV.by

Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko announced earlier this week that he had been exposed to coronavirus, but that he'd been asymptomatic, like, according to him, 97 percent of the Belarusian population.

Lukashenko made the announcement at a large gathering of army officers, in which no one was wearing a mask and social distancing was not practiced.

Belarus, Russia's "little brother" country to its west, made headlines earlier this year by failing to heed recommended pandemic measures. Lukashenko himself downplayed the threat, saying that it was "better to die standing than live on your knees."

He also urged the population to sweat out the virus by working in the country, which, to his credit, he did.

When exactly Lukashenko had the virus is not reported, but we can't dismiss the possibility that he was sick at one of the largest Victory Day parades in modern history, attended by several heads of state and thousands of foreign troops.

Regardless, coronavirus is the least of Lukashenko's worries: an upcoming election could mean the end of his 25-year run as president. We'll see.

You Might Also Like

Belarusan Election
  • May 01, 2006

Belarusan Election

On March 19, according to official data, current Belarusan President Alexander Lukashenko was reelected with 82% of the popular vote. But many voters disagreed with these results.
Russia and Belarus
  • March 20, 2002

Russia and Belarus

Background and current information regarding the Russia - Belarus merger and why the former Soviet state is of importance to Russia.
Corruption, Crimea, and Coronavirus
  • July 23, 2020

Corruption, Crimea, and Coronavirus

This week, Spotify comes to Russia, Crimea is a hot tourist destination (like always), and three cases of corruption: one big, one small, and one straight out of a spy movie.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955