Belarus president Lukashenko misses another event prompting speculation of illness

Leader has not been seen publicly in nearly a week, as opposition news outlet says he was taken to an elite clinic on weekend

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, who has not been seen in public since 8 May, did not appear at a ceremony in the capital of Minsk on Sunday, triggering speculation the longtime leader is seriously ill.

The prime minister, Roman Golovchenko, read a message from Lukashenko during an annual ceremony at which young people swear allegiance to the ex-Soviet state’s flag, the BelTA state news agency reported.