Did the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko say that Russia practices a fascist ideology? No, that's not true: The audio clip has been digitally altered from an address to the Belarusian National Assembly when Lukashenko accused Ukraine of fascism.
A video (archived here) was posted on the TikTok account @kolitikaua on April 6, 2023. The caption in Russian reads (as translated by Lead Stories staff):
Putin is a fascist, a coward, and a murderer
The text states and Lukashenko's altered audio track says (as translated by Lead Stories staff):
Russia has an ideology of fascism. Already fascism. It is turning into practice!
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri May 12 17:18:26 2023 UTC)
The original video dated March 31, features the Belarussian president´s address to the nation and the parliament. While speaking, Lukashenko said (as translated by Lead Story staff):
The developments in eastern Ukraine (Donbass region) were a continuation of the policy of destroying everything Russian. The ideology of fascism, already fascism, is turning into practice, with murders of dissidents and arson, with people burning in the flames. Remember Odessa.
At no time in his speech did Lukashenko say that Russia has an ideology of fascism.
As of May 12, 2023, this video has received over three million views and continues trending in the Russian-speaking segment of TikTok (here, here, or here).
