Lukashenko explains why he prefers to go by ‘Comrade President’, not ‘sir’

On 24 July, when Aleksandr Lukashenko was inspecting the state of harvesting in Minsk District, he was addressed as “Mr. President, sir”. “Don’t call me ‘sir’, I am not the kind of person whom you would call ‘sir’,” the head of state said.

This was not the first time that Aleksandr Lukashenko was addressed this way. Yet, the president has long rejected this kind of address. The Belarus 1 TV channel showed footage from one of Aleksandr Lukashenko’s early interviews. In this video that was recorded at the beginning of his career the president explained why he did not like being called this way.

“This is not the first time I have been asked what I think about being addressed as ‘sir’. I will put it fair and square, as always. It hurts my ears. I have not yet become a ‘sir’, and perhaps never will. The paradox of our life is that everyone has become a ‘sir’. That is why I do not really accept this form of address. Maybe, it is more convenient for people to use this word. Maybe it really sounds more polite, but I do not care much about it,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko added that he got used to the word “comrade”. “I want to be honest with you, this has nothing to do with nostalgia or pro-communist views. The word “comrade” is more relatable to me, I was brought up using this word. Therefore, those politicians who do not like this answer should cut me some slack,” the president noted.

By the way, BelTA’s YouTube projects “After the Fact: Lukashenko’s Decisions” and “How it was” show rare archival footage featuring the president, that will help build a better understanding of where Aleksandr Lukashenko stands on a number of issues.

Written by belta.by