A look at the life of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko

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A look at the life of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko

CNN Here's a look at the life of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Children: Viktor and Dmitry, with Irina Abelskaya: Nikolai Kolya Religion: Has called himself an Orthodox atheist. Has been elected president in Belarus' first democratic election in 1994, but has been marred by accusations of strong-arm tactics and voting irregularities, and won by suspiciously wide margins.

He has been described as Europe's last dictator. Lukashenko has maintained his country's close political ties to Russia, restricted opposition movements and censored media.

In 1975 -- 1977, he was drafted into the military and serves as an instructor in the border guard along the western border of Belarus.

The head of the Gorodets state farm in the Mogilev region was between 1987 and 1994.

He is a 1990 -- 1994 member of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic BSSR Supreme Council, where he is a deputy and later founded a faction called Communists for Democracy.

1991 - Only member of the Belarusian parliament to vote against the agreement that leads to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

July 10, 1994 - Is elected President of Belarus with 80% of the vote, defeating Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kebich in the country's first presidential election.

May 1995 - Is behind a referendum that increases integration with Russia, such as making the Russian language equal to Belarusian and replacing the national flag and state symbols with ones similar to those of the former Soviet Union. The referendum gives Lukashenko the right to dissolve the parliament.

November 1996 - Is supporting a referendum that revises the Constitution to give more power to the presidency, including limiting the authority of the Constitutional Court and extending Lukashenko's presidential term. An impeachment effort fails, and Lukashenko signs a new constitution.

Is re-elected president in March 2006 with over 80% of the vote.

Is re-elected president in October 2015 with 83.5% of the vote.

According to the Belarus Interior Ministry, there are 19 people held in election protests across Belarus. 415 of them are in the capital Minsk. Some 385 people are released by September 20.

December 7, 2020 - Following an investigation about athletes, officials and sports in Belarus, the International Olympic Committee IOC suspends the Executive Board of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus from all IOC events and activities, including the Olympic Games. According to a March 8, 2021, IOC statement, Lukashenko's son Viktor Lukashenko was not recognized as the president of the Belarusian NOC.