Inside the private scandals of Belarus's elusive first lady
According to all available information, Alexander Lukashenko has walked down the aisle only once. His chosen companion was Gala, whom he used to visit for dates 4 kilometres away. At some point, however, the first lady disappeared, and the dictator's parade of mistresses began.
On 26 January 2025, "elections" were organised in Belarus, in which once again Alexander Lukashenko will pretend to have won the mandate of the people. However, during the swearing-in, one key figure will certainly be absent. Although there was never an official divorce, the dictator's first and possibly only wife disappeared.
Apparently, it was love at first sight. He was a tall and handsome young man, adored by many girls, and she was a petite, long-haired brunette. They acted together in a school play. Alexander was Father Christmas, and Galina Rodionovna Zhauniarovich played a snowflake.
Lukashenko's first love
Lukashenko was determined to win the heart of his chosen one. For every date with the girl, he travelled 4 kilometres one way. He came bearing flowers, lent her books, and sought the approval of her mother, a teacher who was strict with her daughters. Eventually, he succeeded, and they became a couple.
"Sasha was so handsome that he often hosted school parties. Many girls were in love with him. Because of this, I had a lot of trouble. They said she came and took the best guy," Galina Rodionovna recounted in 2005 in an interview with "Komsomolskaya Pravda."
Eventually, the couple walked down the aisle in 1975. Very quickly, life became difficult, and rumours reached Galina's ears. Her newlywed husband was already eyeing other women. When the couple's first son was born, Gala spent a year with him in hospitals. What was her husband doing during that time?
The dictator's mistresses
Instead of being with the family, he was learning to gain influence. When he started his political career, he moved to Minsk alone, leaving his wife at home, where she had to take care of the children and her mother. Years later, the sons moved to their father, and she was left alone. Over time, the family home became a prison for her. She could travel to the capital only on holidays and was not allowed to talk to the press.
Lukashenko has two sons with Galina—Viktor and Dmitry. The first is the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the second serves in the border protection forces. The dictator's favourite, however, is the youngest son, Kola, whom he had with one of the mistresses.
Irina Abelskaya became Alexander Lukashenko's personal doctor after his first presidential election victory. She was like his shadow. While Galina was confined at home, Irina accompanied the dictator on all trips and public appearances. In 2004, Kola was born. Although it has never been publicly confirmed that she is Abelskaya's son, it is hard to deny the resemblance to her.
The affair with the personal doctor was not the dictator's only indiscretion. Lukashenko loves surrounding himself with beautiful women. There is no official confirmation of new women entering his life, but the press has reported, for example, on singer Irina Darafeyeva, who allegedly moved into the presidential villa and later pursued a political career.
Miss Russia, Svetlana Korolova, also lived in the dictator's residence, and later Polina Shuba (Miss Belarus 2008) began appearing alongside Lukashenko. They met for the first time at a beauty pageant, then in 2011 at her prom. Lukashenko danced with Shuba, and in 2014 he even took her to visit his official mother-in-law.
On social media in 2019, a video appeared showing the dictator dancing a waltz with her at a Viennese ball. Shuba is currently a television presenter. Officially, in 2015, she married a Belarusian special forces officer, but she still appears alongside Lukashenko.
