Literary critic and political strategist Aliaksandr Fyaduta, in a lengthy interview with "TOK", explained why Lukashenka's inner circle will tear his family apart after his departure, and what Lukashenka's crime is against Kolya.
Aliaksandr Fyaduta recalls: at the end of 1994, when he resigned from the Presidential Administration, where he effectively served as press secretary, he assumed that Lukashenka would remain in power for exactly two terms, which was allowed by the then-Constitution.
«I understood that there would be no impeachment, that he would retain power, but I didn't think he would try to hold it for life,» notes the political strategist.
In 2008, Aliaksandr Fyaduta asserted that the birth of his youngest son, Kolya, should make Lukashenka consider stepping down:
«He will be able to protect the boy only if he maintains respect for himself and if he is strong and popular. What Lukashenka did is a crime not so much against the Belarusian people (he believes the Belarusian people owe him, like the land to a collective farm), but against this boy, against his youngest son.»
As the political strategist explains, times have changed now. Under the current conditions, «no matter how Lukashenka leaves, his own inner circle will tear this family apart. (...) Because they will have to prove to the people that they were merely instruments in his hands, that he forced them.»
Fyaduta emphasizes: Lukashenka did not force any of his officials.
«He satisfied all requests to leave. And if you are there, it means you are satisfied. And you stay there as long as you are satisfied.»
The political strategist warns:
«What will happen to Lukashenka's family afterwards will be unfair, because those who will tear him apart will be even worse than him. Because he truly believes in what he is doing, he believes that there is no other way. But they understand very well what they are doing. Here it's not faith, it's benefit.»
Kolya Lukashenka with his father in Beijing, September 3, 2025. Photo: Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Fyaduta believes that at one point Lukashenka considered the possibility of stepping down "following the Nazarbayev model," however, considering further developments, and also taking into account the fate of Karimov's family in Uzbekistan, he now understands that this is impossible.
«Now he only has two options: either lifelong presidency, or emigration,» states the political strategist.
Fyaduta agrees that he previously believed the birth of his youngest son made Lukashenka kinder, but now his behavior is driven by a different feeling:
«Now he is not driven by love for Kolya, now he is driven by fear for himself.»
Fyaduta does not believe that Kolya is considered a real successor: «He didn't lower the age limit [for a presidential candidate] to at least thirty years. He raised it [from 35 to 40 years]. This is done when they understand that the son will not be the successor.»
Why Lukashenka hides his wife
According to Fyaduta, journalists asked him questions about why Lukashenka never appears with his wife even during his work in the Presidential Administration.
«Journalists badgered me with this question. Finally, I approached Aliaksandr Ryhoravich and said: 'Aliaksandr Ryhoravich, excuse me, presidents can be married, unmarried, or widowed. When will we kill Halina Radzivonauna?'» Fyaduta recalls.
According to him, Lukashenka understood the joke and in turn asked: «Do you want me to lie to the people?» — «No» — «Then it will be as it is.»
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