His appearance in Moscow today caused a lot of speculation about the state of his health Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who had to drive a short distance and did not attend the dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the Victory Day celebrations.

Lukashenko looked tired and slightly unsteady, a bandage visible on his right arm. Despite the rumours, there has been no other indication that he is ill.

In the footage broadcast, the 68-year-old Belarusian president can be seen conversing with Putin and military officials after the parade in Red Square. It is then taken by car to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, just 300 meters away, while Putin walked there, accompanied by the leaders of Armenia and five central Asian countries.

Lukashenko laid a wreath at the memorial, but did not attend the dinner hosted by Putin afterwards in the Kremlin.

Belarusian authorities have not made any announcement about his health. In the past two weeks, Lukashenko has appeared at a few public events, and at one of them his voice sounded hoarse.

This afternoon, however, he took part in a wreath-laying ceremony in Minsk but, again breaking with tradition, wore civilian clothes rather than military uniform and did not deliver a speech.