Lukashenka didn't congratulate Barack Obama

The Belarusian dictator pays off old scores.

Both president of Russia Vladimir Putin and president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych already congratulated Barack Obama. But the Belarusian dictator continues to keep silence. Pavel Lyohki, the head of Alyaksandr Lukashenka's press service, gives advice not to jump to conclusions. He said in an interview with Euroradio that Lukashenka congratulated Obama on his victory in the 2008 elections, but the US president chose not to congratulate Alyaksandr Lukashenka on his re-election in 2010.

“Obama refrained from congratulating. There is the principle of mutuality in diplomacy. It means demonstrating an appropriate reaction,” Lyohki said.

One cannot say Lukashenka ignored the US presidential elections. He explained to journalists on November 6 why he, unlike Obama, didn't vote early. Lukashenka compared the United States with a bulldozer for its inertia in the foreign policy.

According to BelTA, the official news agency, the last person whom Alyaksandr Lukashenka congratulated on the election victory was his friend Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. It happened a month ago on October 8.

“I dedicate this victory to you and our Belarusian people,” touched Chavez replied to the congratulation.