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MINSK: Thousands of soldiers marched in Belarus on Saturday (May 9) to celebrate Soviet victory in World War II, as President Alexander Lukashenko rejected calls for blocking measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lukashenko, who has ruled the Eastern European country since 1994, called fears about the coronavirus a “psychosis” and repeatedly suggested drinking vodka, visiting saunas, or playing ice hockey to combat the disease.
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Spectators in the stands of the capital Minsk, some of whom wore masks, watched as soldiers marched, tanks passed, and Su-30 fighter jets flew in formation overhead.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends the Victory Day parade in Minsk on May 9, 2020. (Photo: Reuters / Vasily Fedosenko)
Lukashenko’s insistence on going ahead with the exhibition contrasted with neighboring Russia, which cut the celebrations amid a jump in coronavirus cases and postponed its usual massive military parade on Red Square.
Dressed in military uniform and surrounded by generals, Lukashenko said it was unacceptable for Belarus to even think about canceling the parade.
“There will be people who will condemn us,” said Lukashenko. He told such critics, “Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions, let alone condemn us, the heirs to Victoria, the Belarusians … We just couldn’t do it any other way, we had no choice.”
Belarus has not imposed blockade measures or social distancing rules, and kept its borders open while countries around the world have closed them.
“This is a demonstration of determination, will, strength, not so much for society as for the inner circle of the elite,” said Andrey Egorov, senior analyst at the Center for European Transformation. “It is a demonstration that everything remains under control.”
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends the Victory Day parade in Minsk on May 9, 2020. (Photo: Reuters / Vasily Fedosenko)
Another reason to organize the parade could be a one-hand act against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ties between the two traditional allies have been strained, especially over Moscow’s decision to cut subsidies and loans underpinning the Lukashenko government.
“In the context of Putin’s canceled parade, Lukashenko has an opportunity to draw attention to himself,” said political analyst Alexander Klaskovsky.
“This is a type of revenge for the numerous humiliations. Putin hid in the bunker, and Lukashenko will be standing on the podium in a beautiful uniform at that time.”
The World Organization has asked Belarus to introduce tougher measures to combat the coronavirus, and the head of its Minsk office has expressed concern over the parade.
There are 21,107 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Belarus, with 121 deaths. But some in the country believe that official statistics underestimate the real cost.
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