Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is rumored to have faked an illness to avoid participating in an eight-hour karaoke marathon hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Victory Day party in Moscow. Kremlin insiders say it was an "opportunistic move" to dodge a night filled with high-pitched renditions of 80's pop songs, one too many glasses of vodka, and Putin's notorious rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way." Insiders who attended the party recounted the traumatic experience of sitting through Putin's attempts to hit high notes and the aggressive encore performances in a poorly ventilated room. "The man belted out "Thank You for Being a Friend" and wouldn't stop the music until every leader thanked him personally," recalled an anonymous official. Lukashenko's decision to leave the party early sparked much speculation about his health, with some even suggesting that he purposely consumed bad sushi to fake food poisoning. However, insiders claim it was a stroke of genius, as not only did he escape the karaoke nightmare but also managed to book some sympathy points with Putin. According to sources, other international leaders have expressed envy at Lukashenko's heroic escape, with some considering faking appendicitis or summoning inner allergic reactions before the next Putin-led karaoke party takes place. "Lukashenko has set the bar high," an anonymous Uzbekistani official whispered in admiration. "We'll now be scrambling to come up with clever escapes and excuses for every gathering Putin invites us to." Belarusian authorities refused to comment on the rumors, while Putin's team brushed it off as hearsay. Nevertheless, the Kremlin is now reportedly considering replacing the karaoke machine with a therapeutic pottery-wheel session for all leaders during their next celebration. A Kremlin source assured us, "Vladimir Putin always spins the world in his hands, metaphorically speaking."