"Amazing Story, But Lukashenko Flew In Drunk."
- 25.07.2025, 22:16
There are many accounts of the dictator's problems with alcohol.
Lukashenko has created an image of a teetotaler, but he himself says he can drink, writes UDF.
For many years, the dictator has been sharply speaking out against people who drink and assures that he himself does not drink. Lukashenko even assured that he cannot tolerate alcohol because he allegedly has no enzyme to break down alcohol.
"I don't drink. No wine, no vodka. I can only have a little bit at some receptions," the politician said.
But at the same time Lukashenko repeatedly said that he drinks from time to time.
"But I drink. In two cases. When we gather, presidents. You are not going to be a non-drinker there, let's say. So you have to drink a little bit sometimes. And the second case - if you are in a female group, you won't seem like a saint either," the politician said in 2021.
But there are other statements and facts that show that in reality Lukashenko's relationship with alcohol is closer than he tries to imagine.
"Amazing story, but Lukashenko flew in drunk"
The late Russian politician Boris Nemtsov described a meeting with Lukashenko on March 31, 1997, when the ruler arrived in Moscow to sign a so-called union treaty, in his book of memoirs, "Confessions of a Rebel."
"I met him. An amazing story, but he flew in drunk. He saw me for the first time (I had only been in the government for two weeks) and was pleased. He offered me to play tennis," Nemtsov recalled.
Lukashenko had to drink a lot with Yeltsin. And with Nazarbayev, too
In general, in the 1990s conditions were conducive to Lukashenko moving away from a sober lifestyle. During that period, he had many and close contacts with Russian President Boris Yeltsin, known, among other things, for his open drunkenness.
"Sometimes I had to deal with Yeltsin. You respect him - you don't respect him. Well, you do," the dictator recalled coquettishly. It is hard to imagine that at that time both politicians could do with just a few drinks.
Lukashenko also admitted that he had to drink with other leaders.
"If Nazarbayev sat down and said, 'Sasha, a shot' - what would I say that I would not drink?" the ruler recalled. - recalled the ruler.
Strong situations with "disappearances" of Lukashenko
We have no facts to say that the politician went on a bender. But during Lukashenko's reign not once and not twice there were situations when he "disappeared" from the public field for quite a long time and then appeared in bad shape.
For example, this was the case after the presidential election in the spring of 2006, which ended in protests. Then Lukashenko disappeared for almost two weeks. Even the inauguration scheduled for March 31 was postponed.
When it did take place, the Kommersant newspaper described Lukashenko as a pale, gloomy man - with pronounced bags under his eyes.
Alcohol Vacation in Georgia
Another example when things didn't go according to plan and Lukashenko failed to appear as a teetotaler dates back to 2018. Then the dictator flew on a visit to Georgia and the cameras of the local media recorded a lot of interesting things.
The Georgian authorities were very hospitable and Lukashenko did not dry out for several days. There was cognac, white wine and red wine.
The dictator together with the then president of Georgia Georgiy Margvelashvili had a tasting at a cognac factory. For tomorrow, Lukashenko and Prime Minister Georghe Kvirikashvili drank wine and something strong already during a "working lunch.
Lukashenko's role in the creation of vodka "President"
The story of its creation hints that Lukashenko wished to get himself a special drink.
The vodka "President" from the plant "Minsk-Crystal" has been known since 2017. Lukashenko said that the alcoholic beverage is produced exclusively by special order of the head of state and can only be received as a gift.
Lukashenko even claimed that "there is no such vodka in the whole world." According to him, no matter how much you drink it, you don't have a headache the next morning.