Nikolai Lukashenko

In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Aleksandrovich and the family name is Lukashenko.
Nikolai Lukashenko
Николай Лукашенко
Мікалай Лукашэнка
Lukashenko in 2019
Born (2004-08-31) 31 August 2004
Minsk, Belarus
Other nameKolya
EducationBelarusian State University
Peking University
FatherAlexander Lukashenko
Relatives

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

Early life, family and education

Alexander Lukashenko remains formally married to his wife Galina Lukashenko, but the couple have not lived together or been seen together since 1990s.[4] There has been no official commentary regarding the identity of Nikolai's mother. However, according to a widespread version, his mother is Irina Abelskaya, a former personal physician of Alexander Lukashenko, whose mother worked as Belarusian Minister of Healthcare.[2][5][6] In a 2016 interview, Irina seemed to implicitly refer to Nikolai when she was asked whether or not 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."[7]

Nikolai has two half-brothers on his father Alexander's side, Viktor and Dmitry, and one presumed half-brother on his mother's side, Dmitry Evgen'evich Abelskiy.

Education

In 2011, Lukashenko entered Ostroshitsko-Gorodok Secondary School. In 2020, he entered Belarusian State University Lyceum.[8] Later in August 2020, Lukashenko was reported to have dropped out of the Lyceum.[9] 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.[10] In 2022, he enrolled in a biotechnology program at Belarusian State University, a collaboration with Peking University. Alexander Lukashenko stated the program was established so his son could obtain diplomas from both institutions.[11]

Public life

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, presidents of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, Pope Benedict XVI, as well as US president Barack Obama.[13]

According to his father, this was at Lukashenko's insistence. However, it has been speculated that he was positioned as a potential successor to Alexander's presidency.[5] Lukashenko 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] Later in August 2025, Alexander dismissed speculations of grooming Nikolai to succeed him as president in 2030, which at an age of 25 to 26 would have likely led to Nikolai to become the youngest current world leader.[16]

In 2015, ten-year-old Lukashenko 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.[17] In August 2020, amid protests in Belarus, Lukashenko appeared alongside his father in camouflage-style body armour carrying a rifle.[18]

In August 2024, Lukashenko was added to the sanctions list of Canada.[19]

Personal life

Lukashenko speaks Russian and English, and is also learning Chinese and Spanish. He has been taking piano lessons since he was nine years old.[20]

Notes

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

References

  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 (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  3. ^ Младшему сыну президента — 15 лет. Как Николай Лукашенко становится самостоятельной медиаперсоной. Tut.By (in Belarusian). 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017.
  4. ^ Parfitt, Tom (5 April 2009). "Belarus squirms as son accompanies dictator to meetings". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b Quinn, Rob. "Europe's 'last dictator' Lukashenko has 'Mini Me' in young son". USA Today. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. ^ Главврач лечкомиссии Ирина Абельская: Горжусь тем, что по работе общаюсь с выдающимися людьми [Chief Physician of the Medical Commission Irina Abelskaya: "I'm proud that my work allows me to interact with outstanding people"]. Tut.by. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  7. ^ Главврач лечкомиссии Ирина Абельская: Горжусь тем, что по работе общаюсь с выдающимися людьми. Tut.by (in Belarusian). 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  8. ^ Николай Лукашенко поступил в Лицей БГУ. Здесь также будет учиться внучка президента Беларуси. Tut.by (in Belarusian). 3 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020.
  9. ^ Источник: Николай Лукашенко не будет учиться в Лицее БГУ, он забрал документы. Tut.By (in Belarusian). 31 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  10. ^ Stefanovych, Olga (30 August 2022). Элитная школа для семьи Лукашенко. Что о ней известно. Deutsche Welle (in Russian).
  11. ^ Boguslawskaja, Alexandra (19 January 2025). "Is Lukashenko's youngest son next in line to rule Belarus?". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  12. ^ День рождения Николая Лукашенко. Что мы знаем о сыне президента. naviny.by (in Belarusian). BelaPAN. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Why does Belarus President Lukashenko take son Kolya to work?". BBC News. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  14. ^ Shadmy, Daniel (17 April 2013). "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. ^ "Veteran Belarus leader Lukashenko signals this may be his final term". Reuters. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  17. ^ Ivanova, Darya (25 June 2020). Николай Лукашенко — сын президента Белоруссии, друг Владимира Путина и талантливый музыкант. Tatler (in Russian). Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  18. ^ Talmazan, Yuliya (24 August 2020). "Belarus strongman Lukashenko wears body armor, carries rifle as protests continue". NBC News. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Backgrounder: Sanctions on fourth anniversary of fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus". Global Affairs Canada. 9 August 2024.
  20. ^ "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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