A biography for Alexander Lukashenkohasn’t been written yet.
“You need to control the country, and the main thing is not to ruin people's lives.”
“We will not have Americans telling us what to do... We cannot be brought to our knees.”
“We have fulfilled all our agreements and all the conditions set by the IMF better than any other state.”
“Who is against human rights in Belarus today? Of course, no one should view human rights as the right to smash shop windows or stir up unrest in the streets.”
“I have always believed that genuine democracy is fairness.”
“If you get a child when you're 50, you'll understand what children are.”
“We have always argued that attempts to isolate Belarus, like other countries, lead to a dead end. In this situation, everyone loses.”
“I tried to be honest and fair, helped the talented and those in need.”
“Americans want to democratise us. OK, but why not go and democratise Saudi Arabia. Are we anything like Saudi Arabia? No, we are far from that. So why aren't they democratising Saudi Arabia? Because they are bastards, but they are their bastards.”
“You know that in the Eurasian space, Russia is the central state, the most powerful state. But to become an empire, a member of some empire, a province in this empire - you know, we're probably not ready for that yet, neither in Kazakhstan nor in Belarus.”
“For the sake of calm in the country, I am ready to sacrifice my own sanity.”
“The basis of my politics is, first of all, fairness and honesty.”
“The arms business is an absolutely acceptable business.”
“There are some people bent on blowing up the situation in the country. I call them the fifth column. They are not an opposition. They want to stage a rebellion in the country. Their dream is to topple the government and overthrow the president.”
“If we put people to work and they are busy, we will have less crime.”
“During the years of my presidency, I lived a tough and difficult life.”
“Belarus cannot be isolated.”
“I have only you, the people of Belarus, and I will serve to the last of my days.”
“I have never moved away from my promises to people.”
“No matter who comes to Belarusian land, I will fight. Even if it is Putin.”