{"id":176116,"date":"2026-02-17T20:50:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176116\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"cichanouskaja-skeptical-about-mikalajs-chances-of-succeeding-lukasenka","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176116\/","title":{"rendered":"Cichano\u016dskaja skeptical about Mika\u0142aj\u2019s chances of succeeding \u0141uka\u0161enka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (mk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

February 17, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Belarus\u2019 opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja has expressed doubt that Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s son Mika\u0142aj would succeed his 71-year-old father as head of state of Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is not \u201cvery much involved in politics\u201d and is too young and inexperienced, she said in an interview with Poland\u2019s Rzeczpospolita<\/em>, referring to the 21-year-old youngest son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She predicted a power struggle between pro-Russian and pro-democracy, pro-EU forces following the Belarusian strongman\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow we must make sure that we are strong and that our partners are ready to support us at this moment and offer Belarusians better terms than the Russian terms. This is our strategy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She noted that pro-democracy activists and officials within \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s circle are united by the desire to uphold Belarus\u2019 independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople within the system also don\u2019t want to be part of Russia. And when they see that \u0141uka\u0161enka is ready to sell our sovereignty to Russia in return for political, economic or personal support, of course this annoys people within the system,\u201d Cichano\u016dskaja said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen a dictator goes, chaos always ensues. \u0141uka\u0161enka is afraid to put forward someone in Belarus as his successor, fearing that person would immediately steal the attention of the officialdom and the security apparatus,\u201d she said, adding, \u201c\u0141uka\u0161enka is a hopeless case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is why he is afraid to make even small, insignificant steps. Sanctions have such a strong influence on him that he is ready to free even the most outspoken opponents in exchange for sanctions relief.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mika\u0142aj frequently accompanies his father on international trips and at political events. He is currently studying at Belarusian State University. In 2024, he went to Beijing University as part of a student exchange program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a massive anti-government protest in Minsk on August 23, 2020, he accompanied his father wearing military gear and carrying a Kalashnikov rifle at the Palace of Independence and later on the adjacent grounds after protesters withdrew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 10, 2020, Mika\u0142aj took part in \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s meeting with political prisoners at the KGB detention center. He has been under Canadian sanctions since August 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka has ruled the country since 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"