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Maria Yeryoma

contributing author

Maria Yeryoma is a Belarusian media manager and a contributing author at the Kyiv Independent. She recently led the commercial "special projects" at TUT.BY — the biggest independent online media in the country. In May 2021, TUT.BY was raided by Belarus authorities, leaving 15 employees in custody and forcing others to leave the country to continue their work. Maria moved to Kyiv and helped establish a new media outlet, Zerkalo. Maria is the author of Belarus Weekly, the largest English-language newsletter about her native country.

yeryomiy@protonmail.com

Articles

Karyna Shuliak, seen in New York, U.S. on May 30, 2024.
Europe

The Belarusian woman at the center of Epstein’s final days

by Maria Yeryoma
The U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30 published over 3 million documents in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The publication of the Epstein files unearths corruption and human trafficking in countries across the globe. In Belarus, the story had another twist. The files flesh out Epstein's personal connection to Belarus through 36-year-old Belarusian national Karyna Shuliak. According to the New York Times, Shuliak was the last person Epstein talked to outside prison befo
Russia

Lukashenko trades prisoners for sanctions relief — and keeps the upper hand

by Maria Yeryoma
As dust settles from a historic deal that saw Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko free 123 political prisoners in exchange for a partial U.S. sanctions relief, the main question remains unanswered — what now? Trump’s newly appointed special envoy, John Coale, arrived in Minsk on Dec. 12 and secured the biggest prisoner release so far, with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and leading opposition figures Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava walking free the following day. The inc
Europe

Reduced protection, rising tensions: Inside Lithuania's strained relations with Tsikhanouskaya

by Maria Yeryoma
Belarusian opposition in neighboring Lithuania had a tough week. Lithuania's new government quietly reduced the state-provided security for exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a move that has been attributed to financial concerns and a perceived lower threat level. The headquarters of Belarus' democratic forces shut down, while Lithuania's opposition called the decision "a betrayal." The decision was later overturned. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly
The bridge connecting Estonia with Russia is seen in Narva, Estonia, on July 24, 2024.
Eastern Europe

In Estonia’s border town, Russian-speaking majority enjoys NATO’s shield, remains mute on Russia’s threat

by Maria Yeryoma
NARVA, Estonia — On both sides of the Narva River, fishermen stand knee-deep in the water between two medieval castles just 101 meters apart. Above them, the flags mark where NATO ends and Russia begins. For years, experts have been warning of the so-called "Narva scenario" — a plan in which Russia might attempt to grab an Estonian border city using its old tune, "protecting the Russian-speaking population." Following Europe's inability to handle Russia's now recurring drone incursions, the mo
Eastern Europe

Trump’s Belarus gamble: humanitarian victory or diplomatic stalemate?

by Maria Yeryoma
The rapid thawing of long-frozen U.S.-Belarusian diplomatic relations continues to make the headlines, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Envoy John Coale making another trip to Belarus on Sept. 11. This visit secured the release of 52 prisoners and led to the U.S. lifting its sanctions on Belarus’s national airline, Belavia. More prisoner releases are expected in the coming weeks. However, this fast-paced process has left the observers wondering what both sides stand to gain. For Belarusian d
Eastern Europe

As Russia-Belarus Zapad military exercises begin, here's everything you need to know

by Maria Yeryoma
The joint Russia-Belarus Zapad drills, which take place this year between Sept. 12 and Sept. 16, are are a regular cause for concern in Europe. While thinly veiled as defensive, the exercises have been straining Belarus' relations with its neighbors for over a decade. Poland has closed all border crossings with Belarus as the drills take off. The fifth set of exercises, Zapad-2025, has been downsized and moved further from the border, although they are still a cause for suspicion after the las
Eastern Europe

'I'd talk to the Devil himself' — Belarus' opposition torn on whether to reengage with dictator Lukashenko to save political prisoners

by Maria Yeryoma
Last week, the Belarusian democratic opposition was torn apart by a particular question — should the West isolate and pressure Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko with tougher sanctions, or offer diplomatic engagement and, possibly, sanctions relief in exchange for the release of over 1,100 political prisoners? The arguments reignited after U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg met with Lukashenko in Minsk and secured the release of 14 prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a key opposition
press conference by Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius, Lithuania, on June 22, 2025.
Belarus

Diplomacy or deal-making? Unpacking the U.S.-Belarus prisoner deal

by Maria Yeryoma
After a high-level U.S. visit to Belarus led to the release of 14 prisoners, observers have been left wondering what autocrat Alexander Lukashenko may have secured in return. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg’s visit to Minsk on June 21 marked the highest-level diplomatic contact the isolated regime of Alexander Lukashenko had with the U.S. in years. The trip was also marked by the freeing by the Lukashenko regime of 14 prisoners, including one of
Eastern Europe

Belarus Weekly: Russian, Belarusian security services plan violent attacks on Belarusian diaspora

by Maria Yeryoma
Polish security agency to investigate disappearance of Belarus’s opposition activist amid fears of foreign involvement. Russian, Belarusian security services plan violent attacks on Belarusian diaspora, Lithuanian Security Department says.   Russian FSB detains Belarus citizen allegedly preparing to carry out "terrorist act" on behalf of Ukraine's SBU. Lithuania to fortify second Suwalki Gap route, viewed as one of the most likely targets for a future Russian attack on NATO, Politico reports.
Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Poland reports attacks on border guards, one allegedly involving a Belarusian serviceman

by Maria Yeryoma
Poland reports two attacks on border guards, one allegedly involving a Belarusian serviceman. Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko invites up to 150,000 workers from Pakistan to Belarus amid deepening labor shortage. Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin threatens Poland, Baltic states during a visit to Belarus. Meanwhile, Russia has added 1,200 Belarusians to its wanted list since July, while Belarus brands jailed EU mission staffer as "terrorist." Subscribe
Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko signs security treaty, pulling Belarus further into Russia’s orbit

by Maria Yeryoma
Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko visits Moscow, enacting a security treaty and signing a range of agreements that pull Belarus further into Russia’s orbit. U.S. President Donald Trump slashes RFE/RL funding in another blow to Belarusian media in exile. Latvia restricts movement at last open border crossing with Belarus amid migration concerns. Japanese citizen sentenced to seven years in Belarus on trumped up charges of spying. Poland and the Baltic states seek to withdraw from the anti
Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Belarus drops out of top 20 global arms exporters list

by Maria Yeryoma
Russia proposed building a drone factory in Belarus with an annual capacity of 100,000 units. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko appoints new government ahead of his seventh “inauguration.” Belarus cracks down on the unemployed amid workforce shortages. UN experts urge Belarus to end the incommunicado detention of political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski, after two years of him being hidden from the public eye. Belarus drops out of the top 20 global arms exporters, SIPRI report finds.
Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Belarus, Russia ratify security pact, expanding nuclear umbrella, military integration

by Maria Yeryoma
Belarus and Russia ratified the Union State Security Pact, expanding the nuclear umbrella and military integration. Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko invites U.S President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Minsk for peace talks. Belarus criminalizes sharing information on military movements and expands in absentia prosecution of exiled opponents. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Local media

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