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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 the team to leave the country to continue their work. Maria moved to Kyiv and helped establishing a new media outlet — Zerkalo.

Articles

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko torpedoes Putin's attempts to blame Moscow shooting on Ukraine

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko torpedoes Putin's attempts to blame Moscow shooting on Ukraine

by Maria Yeryoma

Belarusians detained for commenting on the Moscow mass shooting, while Alexander Lukashenko torpedoes Putin's attempts to blame the attack on Ukraine. Belarusian authorities launch a massive raid targeting over 100 "People's Embassies" activists who seek to represent exiled Belarusians in their countries of refuge. Lukashenko inspects military drills held near

Belarus Weekly: EU seeks to criminalize sanctions circumvention, standardizing penalties across member states

Belarus Weekly: EU seeks to criminalize sanctions circumvention, standardizing penalties across member states

by Maria Yeryoma

Following sham elections, Belarus revives the All-Belarus People’s Assembly – crafted as a sanctuary for dictator Alexander Lukashenko and afforded extensive powers. EU Parliament seeks to criminalize sanctions violations and circumvention, standardizing penalties across member states. Lithuanian citizen dies in Belarusian prison: Lithuanian foreign ministry protests violation of consular rights,

Belarus Weekly: Warsaw calls for EU sanctions on Belarusian, Russian agricultural imports following Ukrainian investigation

Belarus Weekly: Warsaw calls for EU sanctions on Belarusian, Russian agricultural imports following Ukrainian investigation

by Maria Yeryoma

Warsaw calls for EU sanctions on Belarusian and Russian agricultural imports following Ukrainian investigation revealing multimillion-dollar trade between Poland and authoritarian neighbors. Belarus hits rock bottom in the annual Freedom in the World report, ranking it as the least free country in Europe and the 14th least free state in

Belarus Weekly: Tsikhanouskaya urges democracies to 'show their teeth' after Navalny's death

Belarus Weekly: Tsikhanouskaya urges democracies to 'show their teeth' after Navalny's death

by Maria Yeryoma

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged democracies to “show their teeth” after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison. The same week, a fifth Belarusian political prisoner died in custody. Meanwhile, early balloting for parliamentary elections in Belarus starts, with Lukashenko's law enforcers preparing to

Belarus Weekly: Russia's wanted lists include over 3,000 Belarusians

Belarus Weekly: Russia's wanted lists include over 3,000 Belarusians

by Maria Yeryoma

European Parliament condemns the human rights violations of Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, urges non-recognition of upcoming elections amid mass arrests and repression in Belarus. Lukashenko authorities sell seized property of political opponents through in absentia legal proceedings. The Russian Interior Ministry's wanted lists include over 3,000 Belarusians, including opposition

Belarus Weekly: Belarus, Russia to unify lists of 'extremists,' coordinating repression

Belarus Weekly: Belarus, Russia to unify lists of 'extremists,' coordinating repression

by Maria Yeryoma

Lukashenko signs decree exempting military from accountability for using firearms against civilians. Ukraine's former ambassador to Belarus becomes ambassador-at-large to exiled Belarusian Democratic Movement in major shift in Kyiv’s official position on Belarus. Belarus and Russia plan to unify their lists of “extremist” individuals and organizations, allowing more joint

Belarus Weekly: Finland establishes relations with Belarusian opposition; Minsk to nationalize McDonald’s

Belarus Weekly: Finland establishes relations with Belarusian opposition; Minsk to nationalize McDonald’s

by Maria Yeryoma

Political prisoner dies in custody without receiving medical assistance – the fourth death of an opponent of the regime behind bars since 2020 in Belarus. Mother of jailed Belarusian politician hospitalized after detention amidst ongoing crackdown on dissent in Belarus. Finland becomes the 24th country to establish a parliamentary group to

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko attacks religious organizations, broadens grounds for their banning

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko attacks religious organizations, broadens grounds for their banning

by Maria Yeryoma

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko enacts restrictive religious law, mandating re-registration of every religious organization in the country and broadening grounds for their banning. Belarus refuses to let OSCE observe parliamentary elections, citing alleged "dominance of Western representatives in OSCE missions" and sanctions policies. Belarus and Sweden recall their emissaries in

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko's Belarus abducts more Ukrainian children

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko's Belarus abducts more Ukrainian children

by Maria Yeryoma

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko hosts more abducted Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied territories amid escalating international concern. Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights says Russia is seeking to conceal illegal deportations by making transfers through Belarus. YouTube experienced partial blocking around midnight on Dec. 31 as Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made

Belarus Weekly: Belarusian, Russian athletes to participate in Olympics as neutrals

Belarus Weekly: Belarusian, Russian athletes to participate in Olympics as neutrals

by Maria Yeryoma

UK sanctions 17 Belarusians for participating in politically motivated trials of former presidential candidates and human rights advocates during Belarus' post-2020 election crackdown. IOC clears Belarusian and Russian athletes to participate as neutrals in individual events at 2024 Paris Olympics, despite multiple international calls to uphold full ban imposed after

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko visits China, meets Xi Jinping

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko visits China, meets Xi Jinping

by Maria Yeryoma

Lukashenko visits China for a second time this year amid growing isolation and meets China's leader, Xi Jinping. The U.S. slaps sanctions on Lukashenko's "wallets" – enterprises generating revenue for the regime and supporting Russia's war efforts. Tsikhanouskaya calls on U.S. Congress to support Belarusian opposition and pressure Lukashenko

Belarus Weekly: Belarus threatens Lithuania with military action; Lukashenko invites Orban to Minsk

Belarus Weekly: Belarus threatens Lithuania with military action; Lukashenko invites Orban to Minsk

by Maria Yeryoma, Teah Pelechaty

Maria Lvova-Belova, a Russian official wanted by the International Criminal Court for abducting Ukrainian children, visits Minsk to discuss the “protection of children.” Hungary’s foreign minister makes a second controversial visit to Minsk. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko invites Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to visit Belarus. A Belarusian official

Belarus Weekly: 2 Belarus delegations compete for attention at UN General Assembly

Belarus Weekly: 2 Belarus delegations compete for attention at UN General Assembly

by Maria Yeryoma, Teah Pelechaty

Representatives of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s regime attend the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Belarus’ foreign affairs minister calls for the UN to expand the Security Council. Belarusian democratic forces are also in attendance. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urges Lukashenko to be excluded from UN forums.

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