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.