“A president should have no friends” – Lukashenko

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has spoken about whether presidents should have friends.

TodayPress TV reports that he made the remarks during a meeting with residents.

The head of state said that it is difficult for a president to have friends. According to him, there are acquaintances who have helped him greatly throughout his life, and he has not forgotten their support.

Lukashenko noted that, over time, friends begin to demand a great deal from a person. Such relationships can sometimes lead to requests to help someone at the expense of others, which may result in corruption.

He stressed that this was unacceptable to him. The president added that there are good people with whom he can talk and spend time, but he never forgets that he is the president.

Lukashenko said that helping people is not a problem, but a president’s actions are watched by a large number of people, and everyone expects help. In his view, perhaps the only people he could call friends are his sons, who would never betray him and would do what they promise.

Aysel Matlab