Alexander Lukashenko is the President of Belarus, having held the position since 1994. He is often referred to as "Europe's last dictator" due to his authoritarian style of governance, which includes suppressing political opposition and controlling the media. His leadership has been marked by a lack of democratic reforms and widespread allegations of human rights abuses. Lukashenko's government has faced significant criticism from both domestic and international communities, especially following the controversial 2020 presidential election, which many claimed was rigged. This led to widespread protests and a crackdown on dissent, further isolating Belarus from the West and drawing closer ties with Russia.