Born in the Orsha district of the Vitebsk region on August 30, 1954, Mr. Lukashenko graduated from the history department of the Mogilev Pedagogical Institute in 1975. In 1975-1977 he served in the KGB Border Troops. Then he worked as a secretary of the Young Communist League at a trade enterprise in Shklov, Mogilev region. In 1978 he became a secretary at the Shklov district cell of the association "Znaniye" (Knowledge), which propagandized atheism. In 1980-1982 he again served in the Soviet Army.

From 1982 to 1985 Mr. Lukashenko worked as deputy director of a construction materials' enterprise in Shklov. He also studied by correspondence at the Gorki Agricultural Academy in the Mogilev region, graduating in 1985. In 1985-1987 he was secretary of the Communist Party committee at a collective farm in the Mogilev region. In 1987 he became director of a state farm in the Shklov district.

In 1990 he was elected to the 12th Supreme Soviet of Belarus. In April 1993 he became chairman of the Supreme Soviet's anti-corruption committee. His reports full of accusations against high officials made Mr. Lukashenko widely popular. On July 10, 1994 he was elected president of Belarus. As a result of a constitutional referendum in November 1996 he extended his presidential term by two years to 2001. Since 1997 he has been president of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus.

Awards: Order of St. Euphrosyne's Cross.

Mr. Lukashenko is married. He has two children and a granddaughter.

Born in the Logoisk district of the Minsk region on April 29, 1940, Mr. Goncharik graduated from the Belarusian Institute of National Economy in 1961. After graduation he worked as an economist and then deputy chief bookkeeper at a state farm in the Luban district of the Minsk region.

From 1965 to 1986 he made a career in the Communist Party -- from first secretary of the Luban district committee of the Young Communist League to second secretary of the Mogilev regional committee of the Communist Party. Since 1986 Mr. Goncharik has been the chairman of the Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions.

Mr. Goncharik was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet of Belarus (the parliament disbanded by President Aleksandr Lukashenko after the constitutional referendum in November 1996).

Awards: Order of Friendship between Peoples, the medals "For Labor Valor", "For Valiant Labor. In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Lenin's Birthday."

Mr. Gonachrik is married. He has two children and three grandchildren.

Born in Minsk on September 8, 1954, Mr. Gaidukevich graduated from Minsk Higher Engineer and Anti-Aircraft Missile School in 1976. From 1976 to 1991 he served in the Soviet Air Defense Forces and was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1991 he graduated from the Marshal Zhukov Higher Military Command College.

In 1991-1992 Mr. Gaidukevich worked at the Department of National Security of Belarus' State Secretariat. In 1992-1994 he chaired the Council of Ministers' committee for social protection of military and security servicemen.

Since 1995, he has been chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus. In 2000 Mr. Gaidukevich initiated the political alliance "New Belarus - Unity", which unites the LDPB and several NGOs.

Awards: the order "For the Service to the Motherland" 3rd Class.

Mr. Gaidukevich is married. He has three children and a granddaughter.