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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

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Dec. 21, 2025
Europe

How Ukraine's ultimatum changed the equation for Belarus

by Maria Yeryoma
The relay equipment that helps guide Russian drones over Belarus went dark on June 22, days after President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a public ultimatum, threatening to disable the equipment with Ukraine's own forces if the demand is not met. Zelensky's ultimatum to Alexander Lukashenko left the Belarusian dictator between a rock and a hard place: refuse, and Belarus risks joining Ukraine's list of drone targets. Comply, and he risks publicly defying Russian President Vladimir Putin — his count
Politics

Ukraine turns up heat on Lukashenko despite limited signs of new military threat

by Maria Yeryoma
Over four years into an all-out war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Kyiv in an official capacity on May 25. In the weeks prior to the visit, Zelensky has been increasingly vocal regarding a deeper involvement of Alexander Lukashenko's Belarus in Russia's war against Ukraine. According to Zelensky, Russia is plotting major attacks on both Ukraine and NATO utilizing Belarusian territory, and plans to deploy additional si
A leader of the anti-government 2020 protests in Belarus, Maria Kalesnikava, in Berlin, Germany, on March 2, 2026.
Europe

'I’m only afraid of Belarus becoming part of Russia' — released opposition activist Kalesnikava calls on Europe to re-engage with Lukashenko

by Maria Yeryoma
A leader of the anti-government 2020 protests in Belarus, Maria Kalesnikava, reemerged from prison with a message that has polarized many: Europe must reengage with Belarus’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenko. Human lives, Europe’s security, and Belarus’ future are at stake, Kalesnikava argues. After suppressing nationwide protests in 2020, and turning to Russia’s Vladimir Putin for support while doing so, Lukashenko became an international pariah — one whose isolation only deepened as Belarus bec
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
Politics

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

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