Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3 percent year-on-year in January-August. In nominal terms, the GDP reached 110.9 billion rubles ($44.5 billion).

According to a growing number of pro-Kremlin commentators, the spectre haunting Belarus is the threat of “Belarusization,” meaning the promotion of the Belarusian language, history, and culture.

For Lukashenko, there was nothing contrived about the commemoration -- he told a vast sports arena of supporters that historical memory underpinned the nation.