Belarus despot Alexander Lukashenko fell ill during a summit with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, according to reports.
The condition of Putin’s closest ally was hidden during the session in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. Belarus political analyst Dmitry Bolkunets claimed Lukashenko, 69, “lost consciousness at the summit”.
The Minsk tyrant - dubbed “Europe’s last dictator” who ruthlessly locks up political foes - has been handed multiple deadly nuclear missiles by Putin, 71, and these are now based in Belarus.
Bolkunets said it is not the first time Lukashenko has passed out. “This has happened to him several times before. Heat, flights, stress, nerves. He likes a good drink,” he posted.
After a well-documented case when he became ill during a visit to Moscow in May 2023, he was diagnosed with a serious and complex condition Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, according to the expert, and is now treated with expensive medications while under orders to avoid stress and anxiety, he said.
Russian independent media TV Rain also reported Lukashenko’s illness at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit this week. “On the evening of 3 July, Lukashenko arrived in Astana - he disembarked the plane by himself, though he didn't look completely healthy,” said the report.
“According to our sources….his condition visibly worsened in front of summit participants. The next day he spoke at the summit and met with heads of state…
“However, it's clear that he looked worse than two days earlier when he attended a parade in Minsk in military uniform…. His face was pale and shiny, and his speech wasn't confident….”
TV Rain said its sources indicated he was “seriously ill”, adding that “the exact nature of his illness is unknown, as this information is kept under strict secrecy.”
Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich said: "It's clear that he is not in good health. Lukashenko's health is a state secret, guarded closely. Clearly, his appearance is not good. He looks worse than before.
“This is evident. He has gained weight. It is quite obvious he has problems with his legs. He walks with difficulty. During public appearances, facial and head tremors can be noticed."
There are reports of regular “absenteeism” on Wednesdays - presumably for medical treatment. Bizarrely, he has shown rare leniency recently, pardoning and releasing just one of thousands of political prisoners - who is suffering from cancer - and hinting that more may be freed.
“We take a human approach,” said Lukashenko, who is only in power after rigging a presidential election in 2020 and ordering his KGB secret police to detain his foes.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation involves the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels throughout the body. This abnormal clotting consumes clotting factors and platelets, which can result in severe bleeding. It is likely the sign of a serious underlying condition possibly including cancer or liver disease.