Alexandre Loukachenko

Alexandre Loukachenko is the authoritarian President of Belarus, a position he has held since 1994. He is a close ally of Vladimir Putin and Belarus is often aligned with Russia on the international stage. Loukachenko is currently newsworthy due to his recent official visit to North Korea, where he met with Kim Jong-un and signed a cooperation treaty. This visit, his first to the country, signifies a strengthening of ties between Belarus and North Korea, both of which face international sanctions. The move is seen as part of a broader anti-Western alignment, potentially supported by Russia. Simultaneously, Loukachenko is attempting to ease international isolation by releasing prisoners and allowing stranded Lithuanian trucks to leave Belarus. However, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into Belarus for alleged crimes against humanity, adding to the pressure on Loukachenko's regime.