Lukashenko Gave Himself Away With His Strange Emotional Outbursts

• 13.09.2026, 9:08

The dictator's "surprise" is easy to understand.

Surprise of the Day. “The Vitebsk Region Is the Happiest! Who Would Have Thought?”

Lukashenko reviewed the results of a study on current issues of Belarus’s socioeconomic development, which was conducted in July–August 2026 by the pro-government Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Speaking to the state press at a training ground near Baranovichi, he demonstrated his faith in court sociology in all its glory.

“I was surprised: the Vitebsk Region is the happiest! Who would have thought? So, it turns out our people are resilient after all. We will do everything we can to ensure that the people of Vitebsk remain satisfied going forward.”

Lukashenko’s surprise is easy to understand. In his speeches, he has more than once all but written off the region. A couple of years ago, he publicly admitted at the “Dozhinki” festival in Polotsk that he feared seeing this region become depopulated. Then, in a fit of anger while reprimanding local officials, he said that we could do without the Vitebsk Region.

It was right here that they were the first to start hand over ruined farms to Uzbek businessmen—in whole or in part. Vitebsk enterprises, unable to withstand the state’s heavy-handedness, are coming under the wing of businesses close to the palace.

Given this context, the results of the survey on the sentiments of Vitebsk Region residents are truly surprising. However, the reaction to this sociological miracle from the ruler does not inspire optimism. To put it simply: “Are you happy after everything we’ve done to you? We’ll keep going in the same vein.”

Artem Sinitsyn, “Solidarity”