Serbia greeted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s 71st birthday with specially themed billboards displaying messages like “Happy Birthday, President Lukashenko” and “Serbia is with you.”
Birthday Celebrations Turn Political
The billboards, which appeared in Belgrade and Novi Sad over the weekend, featured photos of Lukashenko alongside the messages, showcasing the continued relationship between the two countries despite calls for democratic reform.
Conservative Group Behind the Campaign
The campaign was organized by the right-wing Iván Ivánovich – Ruch Konserwatywny “Nasi” (Ivan Ivanovich – Conservative Movement “Our People”) group, who said they wanted to emphasize Serbia’s traditional relationship with Belarus and show support during challenging political times.
Diplomatic Tensions Mount Between Allies
The billboards come amid growing international criticism of Belarus’s governance, with many Western countries rejecting the country’s elections as neither free nor fair. Lukashenko’s fourth-term reelection was marked by widespread protests, with many international observers criticizing the vote’s legitimacy.
