Over the past months Belarusian and Russian media have been raising the alarm: where is Mikalai, Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s younger son?
The boy did not accompany the father during May’s visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, either during the Belarusian People’s Assembly, or in the final of the contest ‘Miss Belarus-2016’. He was not present even during the celebration of Independence Day. Earlier Kolya, dressed in military uniform, used to review military parades together with his commander- in-chief father.
Kolya not fond of farms and factories?
“Years go by, the boy is no longer a kid. In this period, teenagers usually show the teeth. I think that Mikalai does not want to go everywhere with his father anymore. He began to choose events which are attractive to him. It is not interesting to visit collective farms and factories, to sit at boring meetings,” Svyatlana Kalinkina, deputy chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, believes.
Public backlash
It is the second time in the last three months when Lukashenka’s press officer Natallya Eysmant has had to explain Kolya’s long absence to journalists. “Mikalai is a pupil, not a media person,” she said in an interview with radio ‘Moscow Speaking’. But the presswoman was apparently a bit insincere, because school has never prevented Lukashenka Jr from being in the spotlight.
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“There is not a single verified fact, only some allegations. Mikalai really went abroad with his father in the summer of 2016. Recently, as you say, he has appeared in the public eye during a meeting with the famous American actor Steven Seagal. He also was at the parade on Independence Day. He did not show up at the contest ‘Miss Belarus-2016’. But, frankly speaking, I find it strange that such questions arise,” Natallya Eysmant says.
But the questions do arise. After Mikalai’s long-lasting being a headliner in the official Belarusian media space, he has suddenly gone off the radar. The spokeswoman’s statement sounds hollow. Might the unfavorable public opinion be the reason for it?
Many passers-by interviewed by Belsat TV blasted the media hysteria over Kolya Lukashenka calling it ‘annoying’, ‘ridiculous’, and ‘shameful’.
“The death of Islam Karimov in Uzbekistan raised the question: “Who will replace Lukashenka, Nazarbayev, Putin?” As for Belarus, it is rumoured that Kolya will be ‘on the throne’ after his father leaves,” Kalinkina stressed.
Lukashenka calming
To put the lid on the matter, Alyaksandr Lukashenka made a comment on Tuesday: “Everyone cares about where my youngest son has gone. I will definitely appear with him! Everyone cares! I read all these dirty news, especially the Russians care. Everything will be as usual, I will come and the children will vote,” Lukashenka promised.
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Well, let’s wait until the parliamentary election on Sunday.
Ihar Kuley, belsat.eu, phot. TUT.BY
