Nikolai Aleksandrovich Lukashenko[a] (also transliterated as Mikalay Alyaksandravich Lukashenka[b];[1] born 31 August 2004)[2][3] is the third son of Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus.

Nikolai Lukashenko
Николай Лукашенко
Мікалай Лукашэнка
Lukashenko in 2019
Born (2004-08-31) 31 August 2004 (age 20)
Minsk, Belarus
Other namesKolya
EducationMoscow State University
Peking University
FatherAlexander Lukashenko
Relatives

Early life, family and education

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There has been no official commentary regarding the identity of Nikolai's mother. However, according to a widespread version, his mother is Irina Abelskaya [pl; ru], a former personal physician of Alexander Lukashenko.[2][4] Alexander Lukashenko remains formally married to his wife Galina Lukashenko, although the couple have not lived together or been seen together for the past three decades.[5]

Nikolai has two half-brothers on his father Alexander's side and one (presumed) half-brother on his mother's side, Dmitry Evgen'evich Abelskiy. In a 2016 interview, Irina seemed to implicitly refer to Nikolai when asked whether she would like her "youngest son" to become a doctor as she comes from a family of doctors, her reply was that she would like him to "get a good education, choose an interesting profession, love his job, enjoy it and bring benefit and joy to others."[6]

In 2011, Nikolai Lukashenko entered Ostroshitsko-Gorodok Secondary School. In 2020, he entered Belarusian State University Lyceum.[7] Later in August 2020, Nikolai Lukashenko was reported to have withdrawn from the Lyceum.[8] According to the Belarusian Investigative Center, he graduated from a private gymnasium in the Drazdy district of Minsk, which was operated by the company founded by Irina Abelskaya.[9] Alexander later said in June 2023 that Nikolai was studying at Peking University.[10]

In August 2024, Nikolai Lukashenko was added to the sanctions list of Canada.[11]

Public life

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Nikolai and his father during a dinner with Vladimir Putin, 2021

Lukashenko appeared in public for the first time in 2008.[12] He has attracted significant media attention as his father, President Alexander Lukashenko, has frequently taken him to official ceremonies and state visits, including meetings with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev, Pope Benedict XVI, and US president Barack Obama.[13] According to his father, this was at Nikolai's insistence, but it has been speculated that Nikolai was being groomed to be president after Alexander.[4] He attracted further media attention in 2013, when Alexander stated that his son would become a President of Belarus, causing numerous speculations in the press.[14][15] In 2015, Lukashenko, at the age of 10, took part in a session of the United Nations General Assembly. In June 2020, he and his father attended the Moscow Victory Day Parade on Red Square.[16]

Personal life

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Lukashenko speaks Russian and English, and is also learning Chinese and Spanish. He has been taking piano lessons since he was 9.[17]

Notes

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  1. ^ Russian: Николай Александрович Лукашенко
  2. ^ Belarusian: Мікалай Аляксандравіч Лукашэнка

References

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  1. ^ "Like Father, Like Son: The Adventures Of Alyaksandr Lukashenka And His Son Kolya". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 1 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b Spasyuk, Elena (31 August 2017) День рождения Николая Лукашенко. Что мы знаем о сыне президента, принце Беларуси также он носит титул «КрашВсеяРуси». naviny.by
  3. ^ Младшему сыну президента — 15 лет. Как Николай Лукашенко становится самостоятельной медиаперсоной. Tut.By. 31 August 2017
  4. ^ a b Quinn, Rob. "Europe's 'last dictator' Lukashenko has 'Mini Me' in young son". USA Today. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. ^ Parfitt, Tom (5 April 2009). "Belarus squirms as son accompanies dictator to meetings". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Главврач лечкомиссии Ирина Абельская: Горжусь тем, что по работе общаюсь с выдающимися людьми". Tut.By (in Russian). 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  7. ^ Николай Лукашенко поступил в Лицей БГУ. Здесь также будет учиться внучка президента Беларуси Archived 2 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Tut.By, 30 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Источник: Николай Лукашенко не будет учиться в Лицее БГУ, он забрал документы". Tut.By (in Russian). 31 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  9. ^ Стефанович, Ольга (30 August 2022). "Элитная школа для семьи Лукашенко. Что о ней известно". Deutsche Welle (in Russian).
  10. ^ "Лукашенко отправил сына учиться в Пекинский университет". The Moscow Times (in Russian). 14 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Backgrounder – Sanctions on fourth anniversary of fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus". Global Affairs Canada. 9 August 2024.
  12. ^ "День рождения Николая Лукашенко. Что мы знаем о сыне президента". naviny.by (in Russian). 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Why does Belarus President Lukashenko take son Kolya to work?". BBC News. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  14. ^ Shadmy, Daniel. "Meet Kolya Lukashenko, A Nine-Year-Old Dictator In Training". Worldcrunch. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  15. ^ Walker, Shaun (29 June 2012). "Who's that boy in the grey suit? It's Kolya Lukashenko - the next dictator of Belarus...". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022.
  16. ^ Николай Лукашенко — сын президента Белоруссии, друг Владимира Путина и талантливый музыкант
  17. ^ "Lukashenko fields questions, ranging from the serious to the personal, in an unusual interview". Belarusian Telegraph Agency. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
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