Denying Cheating on Election, Belarusian President Lukashenko: I Am Not a Dictator

President Vladimir Putin with President Alexander Lukashenko. (Source: Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed his description as Europe's last dictator, refuting accusations by his opponents abroad of election fraud to gain power.

President Lukashenko, 68, is understood to have ruled Belarus since 1994.

His opponents, who are mostly abroad, say he rigged elections and handed Belarus sovereignty over to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Lukashenko calls "big brother".

President Lukashenko and his supporters deny the accusations, saying the majority of voters support him for leading Belarus through the years of chaos following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"Power is not given to wallow in the ground," President Lukashenko told reporters at a meeting at the Belarusian Palace of Independence, reported by Reuters July 7.

"I do not decide whether I am in power or not... The people have entrusted this high office to me," he continued.

when asked to describe himself as a dictator, President Lukashenko answered diplomatically.

"Regarding the last dictator in Europe, you should apologize to me today," said President Lukashenko.

"I am not a dictator and if I am a dictator, then I will not be the last," he continued.

He further explained that currently there are less than 22,000 prisoners in Belarus, down from 50,000 prisoners when he came to power nearly 29 years ago.

"I may not be a strong dictator," he said.

Despite this, President Lukashenko says the fate of his country "really bothers him", and he has considered how to live out the rest of his life without power.

"Sometimes I ask myself that question, but then I'm stopped by another question: what will happen in the future?" he said.

"I think about what will happen in the future, what will happen after me? There are questions like that and they have occurred to many people, not only you," he explained.

It is known that rumors about President Lukashenko's health have been circulating for several months. He had missed the luncheon hosted by President Vladimir Putin after the May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.