By Darya Barsukova

During 2008 – 2010 the image of Alexander Lukashenka in Russian media has gone through a considerable transformation: from the “father” of Belarusian people, thoughtful politician, and loyal ally of Russian authorities to that of a renegade and deceiver.

It is a common place that modern media do not only inform but rather submerge their consumer into a certain reality. Alexander Lukashenka, the president of Belarus, is interesting not only as a politician but also as a person, both for Belarusians and our neighbors. We decided that it would be interesting to find out how his image had been constructed by Russian print media. 

It is in the framework of such virtual realities that consciously and unconsciously not only feelings but also thoughts and views are being formed. What a politician or an event is, some political scientists argue, can be understood in the modern world only via mass media.

For the purpose of our research we have chosen the period of rule of current Russian president (2008 – 2010). During this time relations between Russia and Belarus have gone through multiple transformations. The research was conducted on the basis of two Russian federal newspapers: Komsomolskaya Pravda and Argumenty i Fakty. These newspapers have been chosen as two most popular print media among Russian people, as according to a sociological research conducted by the research center of Yuri Levada. 

The following results have been obtained during the research: Komsomolskaya Pravda constructs the image of Lukashenka in an emotional and, however ironical it is, positive way. In Belarus, the country of successful and prosperous farms and absolute order and justice one figure is towering above all – that of Bat’ka [a word for father in Belarusian, Mr. Lukashenka’s famous nickname], as Komsomolskaya Pravda journalists often call him: “The kudos for all this brand new, highly efficient Belarusian agriculture goes to a former director of a kolkhoz and current Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenka”. 

“Bat’ka is not merely liked in the countryside – he is adored. He is flying his helicopter above the fields during harvest time as a local Batman who lands from time to time to punish or to reward” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 18 July 2009). “It is hard to tell if Lukashenka has vision for three or four years ahead; however, he solves current problems in a phenomenal way” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 29 July 2009).  

Lukashenka’s proximity to his people is constantly being stressed: “Regardless of anything Lukashenka can be called a truly people’s president. He has a phenomenal peculiarity (and perhaps a habit) to say the same things old people in villages say. He not only threatens verbally oligarchs, America, and NATO just as sly Moscow does it. Lukashenka, however frightening that may be for some, doesn’t lie. He builds kolkhozes, kills off medium business, and thrown directors of basically all big enterprises into jail (so that they don’t become oligarchs). To cut the long story short, Lukashenka brings desires of a common working man into reality” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 29 July 2009). 

According to journalists of Komsomolskaya Pravda Lukashenka has managed to do what Russian leader had failed to accomplish: to build an effective (however extravagant it is) economic system: “Yes, in a resources-deprived country contested by East and West and living off Russian subsidies Bat’ka has managed to build an exotic economy that is adored by many world’s analysts.” “The deal was struck by two people with a quite controversial reputation in the West: Hugo Chavez and Alexander Lukashenka; two leaders whose economies work by laws they set by themselves” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 4 May 2010). 

Besides Lukashenka portrayed as a smart manager he is also seen as a quite smart politician: “I would like to hear about a single case where Lukashenka had done something to his disadvantage. In that case he would have merely terminated the contract…” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 4 May 2010). Lukashenka’s love for sports has often been stressed: “Up until recently we had all thought that his main hobby was hockey. He also skis and rollerblades. More than that, a couple of weeks ago Bat’ka confessed that he also likes to… cut grass” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 29 August 2009). “After that Mr. Lukashenka put on his rollerblades (we finally understood why he was wearing trunks) and went away for an exercise. He thus demonstrated that he was in excellent shape even in a Venezuelan climate” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 25 March 2010).  

When dealing with foreign policy issues the picture becomes a bit more controversial. However, Lukashenka is again portrayed as a common person who can get rough in certain cases: “A sudden blow to this union was given by a person who had previously been one of its true supporters. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenka informed his colleagues from Joint Security Treaty Organization that he was not going to come to Moscow. As it became clear later Bat’ka had got angry because of the milk war.” Lukashenka can get offended as well. “It is obvious that Lukashenka got offended because nobody had invited him to Washington D.C.” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 15 April 2010). He can be a smart manager as well. “Then a contrived coincidence took place. In an absolutely empty beach Lukashenka managed to materialize two big exuberant albums about Belarus that were presented to the journalist” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 25 March 2010). 

There is another interesting quote that portrays Lukashenka as a smart politician who is ready to use any means to reach his goals: “In his usual manner Bat’ka had tried to get from Russia more economic privileges for Minsk by tying, unfortunately, the summit of Joint Security Treaty Organization to this question. […] It is pointless to quarrel with Lukashenka, it is better to avoid verbal confrontation; however, we shouldn’t be on his bit. Otherwise Lukashenka will use any compromise from the side of Moscow to show how cool he is” (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 14 June 2009).

Lukashenka can also be a tough and independent politician: “We do not tolerate any pressure: neither from Europe nor from Russia. It is our sovereign business – to recognize [Abkhazia and South Ossetia] or not to recognize. By the way, we have never given any promises to Europeans neither: “You are trying to make friends with us so we will not recognize those republics.” Belarus will be good and honest to Abkhazia and Ossetia. However, this issue is not related to your loans in any way.” 

However, as a whole Lukashenka is portrayed in Komsomolskaya Pravda as Russia’s ally in terms of foreign affairs. “I asked Solana (European Commissioner): will you be a substitute of Russia for us? No, no! Well, if “no”, then why set all those questions for us?” In Argumenty i Fakty the image of Lukashenka is radically different from that of what we see in Komsomolskaya Pravda. In Komsomolskaya Pravda we see an effective manager; in Argumenty i Fakty we see “the Europe’s last dictator”. “The Republic of Belarus is under leadership of Alexander Lukashenka who is dubbed as “the Europe’s last dictator” in the EU” (Argumenty i Fakty, 21 October 2009). 

Lukashenka answers these allegations in several ways: “The West calls him a dictator only because he is a good friend with Russia”, or “I am called a dictator in the West not because I am such a ruthless dictator and someone is afraid of Belarus… They are worried because we are allies with Russia”, as well as “Well, I can put up with “dictator”. There’s a certain charm to that. The last one! Can you imagine? The last one! If you hadn’t come here, where else you could have met him?” (Argumenty i Fakty, 26 August 2009). 

A large number of Lukashenka’s quotes are interpreted as attacks against Russia; a number of allegations that Lukashenka is playing a double game in his policies towards Russia have been made: “Alexander Lukashenka is playing a risky game, naming Russia a cause of all his troubles” (Argumenty i Fakty, 28 April 2010), “president Lukashenka has recently made a number of rough statements concerning Russia”, “After that Lukashenka went on with analysis of relations between Russia and Belarus that he appeared to be dissatisfied with. The reason for that are pragmatic relations towards Minsk that Moscow had decided to build. “If Russians have decided that they had provided too much welfare for Belarusian people after looking at their books, that is a wrong approach. That is a short-sided, wrongful pragmatism”, Belarusian president stated” (Argumenty i Fakty, 5 May 2010). “Rare news on Belarusian TV do not contain such taunts. Alexander Lukashenka’s rough statements against Russian establishment also make it to the news. Obviously, it is hard to believe his words about “desperate love” towards Russia and his readiness to build the Union State after that” (Argumenty i Fakty, 21 April 2010). 

Many headlines speak for themselves: “Lukashenka Plays a Tricky Game” or “Lukashenka Has Once Again Deceived Russia”, “It Is Hard to Deal With Lukashenka: He Is Using Blackmail Once Again”. However, we can find quite opposite thoughts and remarks in Lukashenka’s direct quotes: “There’s not a single more pro-Russian person in Belarus than I am…”, “We (Russia and Belarus) should be together, I clearly understand that, and we don’t need any stupid pragmatism here… I would like to remind you that we have two Russian military bases here and we do not charge Russia anything for that”, stated Lukashenka adding that Belarusian army is Russia’s stronghold in the West (Argumenty i Fakty, 12 May 2010). “Belarusian leader stated that Belarus is ready to re-establish full cooperation with Russia: “We are ready to forget everything, start from the scratch and come back to the dialogue”, “I suppose that Russia will finally lose its status and soft power capabilities by losing Belarus. Nobody will believe Russia ever again if it continues to treat our people the way it treats them now, said Lukashenka. Let’s come back to normal cooperation”. “We are the most trouble-free country out there. It is not desirable that we accumulate problems in relations with our neighbor: Russia”, “There’s no point in quarrelling with Russia, we have never done any bargaining with anyone. But when someone starts to harass us and hit us in the back then of course we start looking for opportunities in other parts of the world” (Argumenty i Fakty, 15 April 2010), “Refusal to get closer with Russia is a political death for Lukashenka!” (Argumenty i Fakty, 9 December 2009). “In all instances that Lukashenka recalled he had been smarter, wiser, and braver than his Russian colleague. He truly loved Russia and Russia never paid him back. But Lukashenka will love Russia whatever the costs for his country may be” (Argumenty i Fakty, 7 October, 2009). “Remember that the only reliable partner you (Russia) still have is Belarus, your strategic partner in a strategic place. That has always been so” (Argumenty i Fakty, 26 August 2009). “They say that Belarus has started bargaining with Russia and with the West. I have already told pro-Westerners that we are never bargaining with anyone. We will never sell our friendship with Russians” (Argumenty i Fakty, 7 October 2008). 

Lukashenka’s attitude towards the West is complicated as well: “Alexander Lukashenka has stated that he is disappointed with current relations with the West, which didn’t reciprocate his country’s steps towards the West, as well as with Moscow’s policies, which started building pragmatic relations with Minsk”. “A couple of days ago Alexander Lukashenka in his interview to Reuters blamed everyone for everything. Besides his usual disappointment with Russian authorities for their “short-sided pragmatism” Bat’ka has criticized the West a lot as well”. 

As a result, Lukashenka’s foreign policy is portrayed as very emotional and situational. It appears that Lukashenka is shown as a smart strategist who changes his relations towards the West and Russia depending on the context and, in any case, it is them (Russia or the West) who are to be blamed; Belarus and Lukashenka are always victims. Concerning Lukashenka’s domestic policy Argumenty i Fakty state the following: “the most interesting thing is how Lukashenka speaks to his own people. We use the word “own” literally here. Please mind that everything and everyone depends on Bat’ka in Belarus” (Argumenty i Fakty, 26 August 2009). 

It is worth mentioning several quotes by Lukashenka that have been found in Argumenty i Fakty during our research. For instance: “You asked for a rain – and I gave you the rain!”, “The uniqueness of situation in Belarus is that I don’t owe anything to anyone.”, “I am the president of this country, and this country will exist as long as I am the president.”, “I have thought of myself: thanks God that we have a president that can take care of our society’s stability”, “I will not lead my country to the civilized world.”, “In the end of his interview Lukashenka said that he would not allow anybody to rule Belarus. “I don’t have a right to conduct any other policy because I had been elected by this heroic people of ours and I will carry this on whatever it will cost me. And it is unwise to carry out an absurd policy that is foreign both to our society and yours” (Argumenty i Fakty, 26 August 2009). 

As a whole, Argumenty i Fakty’s analysts agree that Lukashenka plays a not very fare game; they write about his love for blackmail: “this is a peculiarity of Belarusian politics: the authorities try to outsmart Kremlin and ask for numerous preferences. However, it is becoming more and more difficult to do that, and Lukashenka demonstrates advances in relations with other countries to make Moscow change its mind” (Argumenty i Fakty, 31 March 2010). 

Journalists discover contradictions in Lukashenka’s appearance as well: “What strikes most in Lukashenka’s image? Everything! Love for expensive European suits and weird Belarusian military uniform. His remarkable mustaches together with his no less remarkable bold head. However, the most peculiar part of his image are his speeches! Some people are angry with what he says, some adore it. But nobody stays indifferent.” 

Those controversies in his image that are touched upon in newspapers in questions only heat up Russians’ interest towards his persona. He is a smart strategist, a kind Bat’ka, Europe’s last dictator, and a common person at the same time. Situation with Lukashenka’s base son [Lukashenka admitted that he has a four-year old base son] is constantly being remembered. It is interpreted by Russian analysts in the following manner: “Lukashenka is showing that he is a common person, just like everyone. As if he has come down from some sky-high Olympus and showed to the world that he is not only a tough person – and he is a quite tough person – but that he also has some views, values and feelings that are close to the people and that can be greeted or condoned by some… At least Lukashenka is now clearly positioning himself a human being: he is not a machine, a robot, a dictator” (Argumenty i Fakty, 24 October 2008).

It is worth noting that in whatever way the figure of Lukashenka is being interpreted, there is always a slight (and sometimes not so slight) irony. For instance, we can see it in the commentary on his quotes: “As long as I am a healthy person, my people will not criticize me that harshly and the West, it seems, starts to understand it”, followed by a journalist’s commentary: “If we presuppose that Bat’ka is healthy and the West understands it, than is the West healthy?” (Argumenty i Fakty, 29 July 2009). “We have never asked Russians for “Iskander’s” [a mobile theater ballistic missile system produced and deployed by Russia]. We will buy them by ourselves. Let me be frank: we will make them by ourselves if we have to except for the rockets, and the rockets we will buy”, and the commentary: “What’s the best way of explaining to Lukashenka what is a mobile theater ballistic missile system without rockets? Well, it is kind of like Belarus without Lukashenka” (Argumenty i Fakty, 29 April 2009). 

Nevertheless, if we look at the feedback, at how Russian people perceive Lukashenka then in for instance Russian Newspaper (which is an official newspaper of Russian government) we can find the following data. In their response to the question “What is your attitude towards Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenka?” the majority of Russian citizens replied that they think of Alexander Lukashenka with respect (28 percent) or simply respect the choice of Belarusian people, although they don’t like all aspects of Lukashenka (39 percent); 16 percent of respondents had no answer (Russian Newspaper, edition #4941 (117), 30 June 2009). 

We can find a similar opinion in Komsomolskaya Pravda: “The majority of Russians (even if you wake them up in the middle of the night) will tell you that Lukashenka is one the wisest and most able presidents in the Commonwealth of Independent States. He didn’t allow oligarch leeches (mostly from Russia) to rob his country, and Belarusians live modest yet stable and safe (i.e. good) lives.” 

And finally a quote from Argumenty i Fakty:

“There is a truth that is hard to be understood and stupid to be ignored. The majority of Russians do not only treat Alexander Lukashenka as a smart Slavic muzhik who will outsmart everyone by any means and who will never give out his own for nothing. That thing is easy to understand: certain immorality for the sake of higher good has always been valued in Russia. Another thing strikes us. People sincerely believe that Belarus is the bright future of Russia that has never occurred to our country.”