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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

What danger does Transnistria pose to Ukraine, Moldova?

What danger does Transnistria pose to Ukraine, Moldova?

by Paula Erizanu

When there was no mention of Transnistria — Moldova's Russia-led breakaway region — in Vladimir Putin's speech on Feb. 29, Moldovans sighed with relief. A day prior, the leaders of the unrecognized breakaway entity, sandwiched between Ukraine and Moldova, had asked Russia for "protection" — a plea that some saw as an invitation

Russia’s descent into totalitarianism: How it happened

Russia’s descent into totalitarianism: How it happened

by Katie Marie Davies

It is difficult to pin down the exact moment that Russia began morphing into a totalitarian state. For over a decade, the Kremlin was taking away civil liberties and feeding the population a revamped and increasingly more aggressive version of nationalism. For nearly a decade, most Russians didn't seem to

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

Short-lived rise of Boris Nadezhdin, Putin's 'anti-war' opponent

Short-lived rise of Boris Nadezhdin, Putin's 'anti-war' opponent

by Oleg Sukhov

Russian elections are usually predictable and dull affairs. The outcome is known beforehand since the Kremlin handpicks all the candidates, has total control over the media and also rigs the votes. Despite this, there has been an unexpected flurry of activity in the run-up to the March 15-17 presidential election

Russian banks post record profits. Is war helping them?

Russian banks post record profits. Is war helping them?

by Katie Marie Davies

2022 heralded a new era for Russia’s banks. Increasingly isolated from the global economy and laden with heavy Western sanctions, the sector saw profits fall by 90 percent compared to 2021. For Russia’s technocrats, the future seemed dim. Then came 2023. Russia’s Central Bank announced last week

Opinion: Why the Russia sanctions are failing

Opinion: Why the Russia sanctions are failing

by Anne O. Krueger

When bilateral talks fail to resolve disputes between sovereign countries, aggrieved parties may turn to an international judicial body, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Alternatively, treaties or agreements often incorporate provisions for arbitration or mediation of disputes by a pre-designated entity. Similarly, the World

Opinion: Poland's reckoning with populist misrule

Opinion: Poland's reckoning with populist misrule

by Sławomir Sierakowski

It has been a month since Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government took office, and the task now is to rebuild Polish democracy after eight years of corrupt misrule under Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s Law and Justice (PiS) party. No country in Europe has ever faced a political transition quite

Why ideology still matters for an expanding BRICS

Why ideology still matters for an expanding BRICS

by Katie Marie Davies

For Argentina's newly-elected president, Javier Milei, ideology is the beating heart of politics. The economist, TV show personality, and self-professed anarcho-capitalist built his campaign on passionate support for a hands-off government and free market principles. His forthright approach also encompasses foreign policy. In the last weeks of 2023, Milei decided

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

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5:08 AM

Politico: Xi Jinping to visit France in May.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in France this May, Politico reported on March 18. This would be the Chinese leader's first visit to Europe since the pandemic.
3:37 AM

Russia attacks 11 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces struck 11 communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast in 50 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on March 18.
12:22 AM

Charles Michel: ‘Europe must prepare for war.’

If Europe wants to exist in peace it must shift to a “war economy” mode and significantly bolster defense capabilities in the face of the threat posed by Russia, European Council President Charles Michel said on March 18.
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