Editing Alexander Lukashenko (section)

===Public opinion===
Independent polling is tightly restricted in Belarus.<ref name="Higgins-2020">{{Cite news|last=Higgins|first=Andrew|date=22 June 2020|title=Political Grip Shaky, Belarus Leader Blames Longtime Ally: Russia|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/22/world/europe/belarus-lukashenko-russia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622040802/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/22/world/europe/belarus-lukashenko-russia.html |archive-date=22 June 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=28 June 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Surveys are monopolized by the government, which either does not publish its surveys or uses them for propagandistic purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shraibman|first=Artyom|title=The House That Lukashenko Built: The Foundation, Evolution, and Future of the Belarusian Regime|url=https://carnegie.ru/2018/04/12/house-that-lukashenko-built-foundation-evolution-and-future-of-belarusian-regime-pub-76059|access-date=28 June 2020|website=Carnegie Moscow Center|language=en|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618140615/https://carnegie.ru/2018/04/12/house-that-lukashenko-built-foundation-evolution-and-future-of-belarusian-regime-pub-76059|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Lukashenko's moustache.jpg|thumb|233x233px|Lukashenko's trademark moustache]]

According to a leaked internal poll, a third of the population had trust in Lukashenko.<ref name="Higgins-2020" /> The last credible public poll in Belarus was a 2016 poll showing approximately 30% approval for Lukashenko.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 June 2020|title=Belarus presidential election: Will the lights go out on Lukashenko?|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/12/belarus-presidential-election-will-the-lights-go-out-on-lukashenko-in-2020|access-date=28 June 2020|website=euronews|language=en|archive-date=13 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613081430/https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/12/belarus-presidential-election-will-the-lights-go-out-on-lukashenko-in-2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lukashenko is referred to as "Batska" ({{lang|be|бацька}}, "father") by his supporters.<ref name="last"/>

During the [[2020–21 Belarusian protests]], opponents of Lukashenko began to refer to him as "'''Sasha 3%'''" on the basis that they believed that he was only supported by three percent of the Belarusian population.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wesolowsky|first=Tony|date=25 June 2020|title=Sasha 3%? Belarusians Poke Fun At President's Slipping Support|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarusians-poke-fun-at-president-slipping-support/30690561.html|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|language=en|access-date=18 November 2020|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123233535/https://www.rferl.org/a/belarusians-poke-fun-at-president-slipping-support/30690561.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=7 August 2020|title=Protests shake up Belarus presidential election|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53650867|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=18 November 2020|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026215403/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53650867|url-status=live}}</ref> The term has subsequently become a popular meme within the Belarusian opposition appearing on T-shirts and posters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://biznesalert.com/august-2020-belarus-presidential-electrions-lukashenko/|title=A hot August in Belarus. Is a breakthrough coming?|last=Marszałkowski|first=Mariusz|date=4 August 2020|website=biznesalert.com|language=en|access-date=18 November 2020|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127025233/https://biznesalert.com/august-2020-belarus-presidential-electrions-lukashenko/|url-status=live}}</ref> Lukashenko has also been referred to as "Tarakanishche" ("Cockroach") by his opponents in reference to the poem "[[The Monster Cockroach]]", in which a moustached cockroach inflicts a reign of terror on the other animals before being eaten by a sparrow.<ref name="squash">{{Cite news|last=Wesolowsky|first=Tony|date=27 May 2020|title=Although Banned From Running, Vlogger's Calls To Cast Out 'Cockroach' Lukashenka Resonating With Many Belarusians|language=en|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/banned-from-running-vlogger-s-calls-for-cockroach-lukashenka-to-leave-still-resonate-with-many-belarusians/30638157.html|access-date=18 August 2020|archive-date=26 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826203153/https://www.rferl.org/a/banned-from-running-vlogger-s-calls-for-cockroach-lukashenka-to-leave-still-resonate-with-many-belarusians/30638157.html|url-status=live}}</ref>