A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s administration has become increasingly reliant on Russia for economic, political and military support in recent years.

Lukashenko has hosted Russian forces and allowed them to use Belarus as a staging ground.

Putin backed Lukashenko after he claimed a disputed election victory in 2020, sparking mass protests that almost ousted him from power.

The scale of the protests were unprecedented for Belarus with more than 100,000 packing into central Minsk, the capital, for four consecutive Sundays after the election.

Europe’s longest-serving ruler, Lukashenko took office in 1994 during the chaos caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Often described as Europe’s “last dictator”, he has tried to preserve elements of Soviet communism.

Much of manufacturing has remained under state control, and main media channels have been loyal to the government.

At the same time, Lukashenko has tried to style himself as a tough nationalist with a direct manner, defending his country from harmful foreign influences, and a guarantor of stability.