The key facts

  • On November 8, the fifth wood-chopping championship among media outlets is held near Minsk
  • Lukashenko chopped firewood and signed an axe which, together with his gloves, will become the main prize
  • He had previously attended the tournament twice and personally conducted master classes

The presidential axe as a prize

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko took part on November 8 in the fifth national wood-chopping championship among media outlets, held on the shore of the Vyača reservoir near Minsk. Footage from the event was published by the Telegram channel 'Pool of the First', the event was reported by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru.

What happened at the tournament

Lukashenko personally chopped firewood and dedicated his work to journalists. 'So that journalists know they are not the only ones working,' he joked, adding that the competition participants were doing a great job. At the end of his work, he left his autograph on a Belarus-brand axe: the tool, together with the president's personal gloves, will become the main prize of the championship. According to Life.ru, a video showing Lukashenko chopping firewood with his aides at his small homeland and signing the axe handle was published by 'Pool of the First'.

The competition program

According to BelTA, media representatives compete in several disciplines: presidential-style wood chopping, wood chopping among men and women, chopping a log with an axe, a relay race, as well as the 'One Strike' and 'Strength Test' contests. Lukashenko had visited the celebration twice before, including the very first championship, and personally conducted wood-chopping master classes.