Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko departed for Oman on Friday, November 28, but has not been publicly seen since, provoking widespread speculation about his whereabouts.
Departure to Oman and Disappearance
On Friday, 28 November, Belarus’ president Alexander Lukashenko flew to Oman. A media clip showed him being welcomed at the airport, but no photographs or updates have appeared since, raising questions about his current location.
Speculation About His Disappearance
Polish journalist Paweł Łatuszka posted on Sunday that Lukashenko had vanished for three days. He argued that the visit was a private, not state, trip, likely tied to moving stolen private funds. Łatuszka noted that the meeting in Muscat lacked the ceremonial elements typical of state visits and highlighted the need for high‑level talks with Omani authorities to justify state expenditure, implying ongoing medical treatment for Lukashenko or other reasons behind his extended absence.
Reappearance in Casual Attire
A photograph released by Lukashenko’s official account on Monday, 1 December showed the president in a suit accompanied by a relaxed shirt with buttons undone at the collar, standing beside the Omani sultan. The image was taken from a distance and the media were allotted only a minute to capture the leaders before conversations moved behind closed doors. The caption highlighted that both leaders “discussed progress on key bilateral projects and exchanged assessments of the regional and international situation,” underscoring a strong level of mutual understanding. The official post also mentioned that Lukashenko was accompanied by his sons Viktor and Nikolaj, and the blogger described the visit as a private outing at the expense of the state.
