EDITOR’S PICKS

Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?

BelarusAlert May 10, 2022

Belarus has good reason for concern over Putin’s nuclear intimidation

By Steven Pifer

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could go nuclear. If Vladmir Putin deploys nuclear weapons there is reason to believe that Belarus itself would soon be in the firing line.
Belarus Conflict
Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?

BelarusAlert May 31, 2022

From White Russia to Belarus: Norway snubs Kremlin with name change

By Peter Dickinson

Norway has announced that it will now use the name “Belarus” instead of “Hviterussland” (literally “White Russia”) in a move reflecting growing awareness that Belarus should not be viewed through a Russian lens.
Belarus Democratic Transitions
Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?

BelarusAlert May 17, 2022

Putin’s only friend: Belarus is Russia’s last remaining post-Soviet ally

By Brian Whitmore

The recent CSTO summit in Moscow highlighted Russia’s lack of support even within the former Soviet region while underlining Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s status as Vladimir Putin’s last remaining ally.
Belarus Central Asia

LATEST ANALYSIS

BelarusAlert

Nov 29, 2020

Russia loses patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka

By Vladislav Davidzon

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s recent visit to Minsk created the strong impression that the Kremlin is fast losing patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka and seeks a managed transition.

Belarus Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Nov 16, 2020

Belarus dictator Lukashenka pins hopes on terror tactics

By Vladislav Davidzon

The pro-democracy uprising in Belarus passed the one hundred day mark in mid-November with protests refusing to cease despite a fresh escalation in state violence and record numbers of daily detentions.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Nov 9, 2020

Biden victory offers hope for Belarus democratic uprising

By Vladislav Davidzon

As the world prepares for a Joe Biden presidency, there are expectations in Belarus that the coming change in US leadership will mean greater American support for the country’s pro-democracy uprising.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Nov 4, 2020

Belarus’s nation-building journey is just beginning

By Vladislav Davidzon

The pro-democracy uprising in Belarus against the rule of dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has been called a national awakening, but huge challenges lie ahead as the country’s transformation continues.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Oct 30, 2020

Belarus uprising enters dangerous new phase

By Doug Klain

Events in Belarus continued to escalate this week as pro-democracy protesters attempted to initiate a nationwide general strike and the Lukashenka regime responded with a heavy-handed crackdown.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Oct 8, 2020

Putin’s fear of democracy is fueling the crisis in Belarus

By Peter Dickinson

The leaders of pro-democracy protests in Belarus have repeatedly denied any anti-Russian agenda but this has failed to prevent Moscow from offering its full backing to beleaguered dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Oct 6, 2020

The West finally imposes sanctions on Belarus

By Anders Åslund

After weeks of delays, the US and EU have finally imposed sanctions on the Lukashenka regime in response to the flawed August 2020 Belarus presidential election and crackdown on protests.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Oct 4, 2020

Belarus protest crackdown sparks IT industry exodus

By Peter Dickinson

The Lukashenka regime’s hard line response to unprecedented pro-democracy protests in Belarus is sparking an alarming exodus within the country’s vibrant and economically important IT industry.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 26, 2020

Lukashenka’s rapid decline is giving Putin nightmares

By Peter Dickinson

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s worsening predicament is setting off alarm bells in the Kremlin, where events in neighboring Belarus are viewed as a possible blueprint for future unrest inside Russia itself.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 22, 2020

How post-election protests are creating a new Belarus

By Franak Viačorka

After almost three decades in the post-Soviet doldrums, historic change is finally underway in Belarus. Lukashenka and Putin can still delay this process, but they can no longer derail it entirely.

Belarus Democratic Transitions
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spotlight

Belarus

Belarus’ August 2020 presidential election saw widespread protests and serious fraud allegations as President Lukashenka claimed victory against popular opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Will Belarus begin its transition to democracy, or will Belarusians face further repression as Lukashenka’s rule falters?

Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?

UkraineAlert Aug 13, 2024

Belarus’s political prisoners must not be forgotten

New sanctions unveiled in August have highlighted the plight of Belarus’s approximately 1,400 political prisoners, but much more must be done to increase pressure on the Lukashenka regime, writes Hanna Liubakova.

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Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?

UkraineAlert Jul 25, 2024

The West should articulate the possibility of a European future for Belarus now

By Richard Cashman

Failure to articulate the possibility of a European future for Belarus leaves the Euro-Atlantic community at risk of being caught off guard without a plan when Belarus reaches its fork in the road, writes Richard Cashman.
Belarus Conflict
Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?

UkraineAlert Jul 16, 2024

I was sentenced to ten years in absentia for highlighting Belarus’s descent into dictatorship

By Alesia Rudnik

My recent ten-year sentence in absentia is a sure sign that Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is increasingly insecure and dependent on the Kremlin, writes Alesia Rudnik.
Belarus Civil Society

The views expressed in BelarusAlert are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

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BelarusAlert

Jun 2, 2021

Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?

By Brian Whitmore

Vladimir Putin has a proven skill for surreptitiously playing the arsonist and then offering his services as a firefighter. He may now be employing these same tactics in his approach towards the crisis in neighboring Belarus.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

BelarusAlert

May 27, 2021

Putin sides with Belarus dictator over air piracy as Ukraine rejects Minsk talks

By Peter Dickinson

Former Ukrainian president Leonid Kravchuk has confirmed that Ukraine will seek to move peace talks with Russia away from Minsk as the international fallout from Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s recent act of air piracy continued to make waves throughout the region.

Belarus International Norms

BelarusAlert

May 26, 2021

Did Russia assist in Belarus dictator’s act of air piracy?

By Brian Whitmore

Did Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka get a stealthy assist from Vladimir Putin's Russia in hijacking a commercial airliner travelling between two European Union countries?

Belarus International Norms

BelarusAlert

May 25, 2021

Ukraine bans Belarus flights over Lukashenka’s air piracy

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine will ban air traffic with Belarus starting May 26 as the fallout continues from Sunday’s dramatic forced landing of an EU airliner and passenger abduction in Minsk.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

BelarusAlert

May 24, 2021

State-sponsored air piracy: Belarus dictator tests the international community

By Peter Dickinson

European leaders agreed to new sanctions against Belarus on May 24, the day after dictator Lukashenka sparked uproar by forcing an EU passenger jet to land in Minsk and abducting a high-profile dissident passenger.

Belarus European Union

New Atlanticist

May 24, 2021

Belarus air piracy: How the world should respond

By Daniel Fried

Outrage at aggression should lead to action. The West has options for a civil-aviation response as well as new targeted sanctions.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

May 19, 2021

Dialog of dictators: How Putin and Lukashenka really talk to each other

By Brian Whitmore

Meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka have become more frequent since the outbreak of anti-regime protests in Belarus last year, but details remain vague.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

BelarusAlert

May 12, 2021

Time to sanction the Putin-Lukashenka “axis of autocrats”

By Brian Whitmore

Callings are growing for the international community to impose sanctions against the Putin-Lukashenka axis rather than just on the Belarusian regime.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

May 5, 2021

Belarus sanctions: Time to target Russia?

By Brian Whitmore

Can sanctions against Belarus be separated from sanctions against Russia? Or should sanctions against the two countries be treated as part of a coherent whole, effectively sanctioning the Putin-Lukashenka axis?

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

Apr 28, 2021

Lukashenka’s succession gambit: Kremlin capitulation or power play?

By Brian Whitmore

Alyaksandr Lukashenka either just made a bold and brazen power play vis-a-vis Russia or he began laying the groundwork for Moscow's ultimate takeover of Belarus. Whatever the truth is, the stakes are enormous.

Belarus Crisis Management
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