The ideological lines of the Lukashenka regime in the 1st quarter of 2026
The following main lines can be identified in Lukashenka’s propaganda.
Internal:
- Promoting the image of Lukashenka as the nation’s sole and irreplaceable leader, the focal point and symbol of social unity. Unconditional support for all of the dictator’s actions, the glorification of his real and imagined achievements, personal qualities and traits, and a constant stream of flattery and gratitude. Any criticism is out of the question. In fact, one can speak of the emergence of a cult of personality of Lukashenka.
- Ensuring and strengthening Belarus’s image as a peaceful, stable, and prosperous country. This objective can be viewed as an extension of the previous one, given that the country’s prosperity is inextricably linked to Lukashenka’s actions.
- Struggle against the “internal threat” – the opposition, Belarusians who disagree with the regime, and participants in the protest movement who have been forced to leave the country due to political repression. Actions aimed at discrediting and dividing Belarusian democratic forces.
External:
- The exaggeration of the image of the “hostile West” as the primary external threat. The West dreams of weakening and destroying Belarus (and its alliance with Russia) and seizing its western territories. In this context, everything the “West” does is viewed negatively.
- The core of anti-Western discourse is an anti-European narrative. Europe is portrayed as an aggressive yet declining, isolated, and weakened player – an antagonist to a peaceful and stable Belarus. The main information attacks are directed at Poland and the Baltic states (primarily Lithuania).
- Anti-Ukrainian narrative. The creation of a negative image of Ukraine and its leadership, and the justification of Russia’s military aggression. It consists of a set of attitudes that deny Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and right to exist, as well as the crimes committed by the Russian Armed Forces, etc.
The latter narrative adds to our understanding of the extent to which the Lukashenka regime is dependent on the Kremlin, as Belarusian state media are forced to echo the Kremlin media’s main anti-Ukrainian and pro-war lines. Belarus continues to offer Russia unconditional support in this aggression, including ideological support. Any criticism of Russia’s actions in Ukraine is out of the question.
Also, in March, the situation in the Middle East and the war of the U.S. and Israel against Iran were added to the main propaganda themes.
You can read or download the whole monitoring of Belarusian propaganda in the 1st quarter of 2026 at this link.
Материал доступен на русском языке: «Дональд Трамп зовёт сильных!» Обзор основных нарративов беларусской пропаганды в январе-марте 2026
