Minsk summons EU, Ukrainian diplomats, and addresses UN, OSCE over alleged drone incursion from Ukraine. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko pushes a bill to criminalize violence and threats against incumbent or former presidents of Belarus, unauthorized reports on movements of the Belarusian military. The U.S., and allies impose new sanctions
EU hits 28 Belarusian judges, propagandists, law enforcers with personal sanctions over human rights violations. Russian drones again cross into Belarusian airspace in Russia's most extensive drone attack on Kyiv in 2024. Belarusian political prisoners excluded from historic East-West prisoner swap, sparking despair among Belarusian opposition. Subscribe to the Newsletter
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko pardons German citizen facing death penalty in Belarus as part of a major prisoner swap between Moscow, Washington and Berlin. Security concerns prompt the European Commission to ask Hungary to clarify its decision to ease immigration requirements for Russian and Belarusian citizens. Lukashenko meets Vladimir Putin
Belarus sentences a German citizen to death for alleged terrorism, Berlin pulled into negotiations over his fate. After handing down the death sentence to a German citizen, Minsk says it will extend visa free travel to Belarus for 35 European countries. Poland gives Alexander Lukashenko’s regime three conditions to
Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko claims he withdrew troops from the Belarus-Ukraine border to “de-escalate.” Four Russian kamikaze drones entered Belarusian airspace over the past week. NATO warns that deepening military integration between Russia and Belarus undermines regional stability and alliance defenses. Media reports of disturbances at the Belarus-Poland border linked
Belarus joins the Shanghai Cooperation Organization led by Russia and China, aiming for political legitimacy and developing “anti-sanction measures.” Chinese and Belarusian militaries conduct joint drills near NATO and Ukraine borders. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko releases 18 political prisoners while adding 17 more to the list. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus
The EU imposes new sanctions on Belarus, targeting sanction circumvention. Amid rising border tensions between Ukraine and Belarus, Belarusian official bolsters nuclear threats. Ukraine returns five of its citizens held in Belarusian prisons in a latest prisoner swap with Russia. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko suggests possible release of seriously ill
Belarus signals willingness for border security talks as Poland mulls full border closure and turns to China for solutions amid intensified migration crisis. The U.S. designates Belarus as State Sponsor of Human Trafficking in a 2024 report, highlighting forced labor, complicity in abduction of Ukrainian children, and worsening migration
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says no Armenian official will visit Belarus as long as Alexander Lukashenko remains in power following a diplomatic scandal over Belarus’ support for Azerbaijan. The U.S. expands sanctions on over 300 entities in China and Belarus to thwart Russian sanction circumvention. Twelve human rights
Following the death of a Polish soldier stabbed at the Polish-Belarusian, Warsaw reintroduces its buffer zone and demands that Belarus extradite the suspected attacker. Belarus joins in the second stage of Russian nuclear drills, simulating the combat use of tactical nuclear warheads, with the aim of undermining Western support for
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó visits Belarus, despite EU sanctions. Poland to reinstate 200-meter buffer zone at Belarus border amid surge in attacks on border guards and worsening of the Belarus-instigated migration crisis at EU border. EU approved tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain products to cut funding for Russia's
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus meet in Minsk to discuss security and economy after both countries recently announced exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons. As Putin visited Minsk, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's plane was spotted landing in the Belarusian city of Homel. Belarusian political analyst Alexander
The regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko cracks down on the 257 candidates registered to join the exiled opposition council. Over a hundred Belarusians living abroad accused of ‘forming an extremist group’ and ‘discrediting Belarus’ by celebrating Freedom Day in their countries of refuge. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says Poland to bolster its border with Belarus amid warnings of mass migration breach and "hybrid war" threats. Ukraine’s parliament considers a bill to grant citizenship to foreign volunteers fighting in as part of the Ukrainian Army, addressing legal challenges currently facing Belarusians fighting
Belarus announces sudden inspection of tactical nuclear weapons launchers, simultaneously with Russia's tactical nuclear drills. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk calls for a security meeting after Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt flees to Belarus and requests political asylum. Latvia digs an anti-tank ditch on its borders with Russia and Belarus as
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko becomes chairman of the All-Belarus People’s Assembly, a newly established extra-governmental body. Two hospitals in Kyiv were evacuated following threats from the head of the Belarusian KGB. Lithuania demands Minsk retract claims it was preparing for drone attacks on Belarusian targets. Subscribe to the Newsletter
Belarusian parliament passes bill expanding Investigative Committee's access to citizens' personal data without their consent. Lithuanian parliament rejects conservative proposal to cancel residence permits of Belarusians traveling to their home country. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us In a move mirroring Russia, Belarus’s Culture Ministry classifies depictions
Around a month before Russia held its presidential elections that were neither free nor fair, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko held his own election-style event. The Central Election Commission of Belarus, controlled by the country’s dictator, claimed an unprecedented 73% turnout. Elections in Belarus, similar to those of neighboring Russia,
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
Financial Times says EU plans to impose tariffs on Belarusian and Russian grain imports, aiming to appease farmers and some member states. As Poland cuts financing for exiled Belarusian media, concern rises over the survival of independent Belarusian press. Four exiled Belarusian activists receive in absentia sentences, dozens more are
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,
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
Tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections in Belarus, condemned internationally and dismissed by the opposition, ended on Feb. 25, bolstering dictator Alexander Lukashenko's decades-long rule. Amidst criticism of the "sham" vote, Lukashenko has declared he will run in the 2025 presidential elections. Western democracies impose new sanctions on Belarus on
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
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
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
Putin and Lukashenko meet in Saint Petersburg for the Supreme State Council of the Russia-Belarus Union State, aiming to further integrate Russia and Belarus. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya calls for Council of Europe accession plan for future democratic Belarus a s PACE votes on new resolution about Belarus. Twenty
Belarus amends its military doctrine, permitting the use of nuclear weapons, while Europe grows increasingly apprehensive over potential for wider war in Europe. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania sign an agreement to establish a Baltic defense zone on their eastern border with Russia and Belarus, reflecting growing security concerns. Belarusian law
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
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
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
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claims the transfer of Russian tactical nuclear warheads to Belarus was completed in October 2023. The Belarusian parliament has approved a bill to give immunity to the ex-president, ensuring he cannot be prosecuted for actions taken during his tenure, thereby attempting to grant Lukashenko the possibility
