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Lukashenko admits joking with Putin over who is the bigger dictator

9/23/2026

The short version is that Belarus's leader admitted to a recurring, lighthearted argument with his Russian counterpart about who holds more absolute power.

In plain terms, a dictator is a ruler who concentrates all political authority in their own hands, often bypassing standard democratic checks and balances.

This exchange, revealed during a speech to youth leaders in Minsk, highlights the unusually candid relationship between the two autocrats.

Alexander Lukashenko, who has governed Belarus since 1994, made these remarks at the "Youth. Future." forum on September 17.