Alexandre Loukachenko

Alexandre Loukachenko has been the president of Belarus since 1994, ruling in an authoritarian manner. He is a close ally of Russia and Vladimir Putin. Loukachenko is currently newsworthy due to several recent developments. He made his first official visit to North Korea to meet with Kim Jong-un, highlighting the alignment of Belarus with nations facing international sanctions. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into Belarus for alleged crimes against humanity. Furthermore, Loukachenko is attempting to ease international isolation by releasing Lithuanian trucks that had been blocked in Belarus and freeing 250 prisoners following US mediation. These actions suggest an effort to improve Belarus's standing on the global stage, despite the ongoing ICC investigation and his close ties with Russia.