EDITOR’S PICKS

Protest mood spreads from Belarus to Russia as calls grow for post-Soviet change

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
Protest mood spreads from Belarus to Russia as calls grow for post-Soviet change

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
Protest mood spreads from Belarus to Russia as calls grow for post-Soviet change

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

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BelarusAlert

Apr 21, 2021

Bizarre Belarus “coup plot” has all the hallmarks of a classic Kremlin drama

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s recent claim that he was the target of a US-backed coup may be more than just the latest in a series of conspiratorial rants by the increasingly beleaguered dictator.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Apr 14, 2021

Belarus is the new front in Putin’s war against Ukraine

By Brian Whitmore

Fears are growing that the rapidly expanding Russian military presence in Belarus will help transform the country into a new front in the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Apr 7, 2021

The battle for Belarus: Russified regime faces Westernizing society

By Brian Whitmore

As the Russification of the Belarusian state unfolds, a very different dynamic is developing in Belarusian civil society: ordinary Belarusians are distancing themselves from Russia and embracing the West.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Mar 31, 2021

Soft annexation: Inside the Russian takeover of Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

Russia is slowly but steadily achieving the “soft annexation” of Belarus via a series of political, economic, and military measures that will assure the Kremlin of dominance over its small western neighbor.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

BelarusAlert

Mar 24, 2021

Moscow’s man in Minsk

By Brian Whitmore

As Belarus braced for a fresh round of anti-regime protests, the Kremlin has been busy laying the groundwork to tighten its grip on Russia’s far smaller but strategically important western neighbor.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Mar 17, 2021

How do you sanction a problem like Lukashenka?

By Brian Whitmore

The West is looking to increase sanctions against Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka but must also tread carefully to avoid creating opportunities for Russia to expand its geopolitical influence.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

Mar 16, 2021

Belarus human rights crisis: Concerns grow for political prisoners

By Vladislav Davidzon

Human rights concerns are mounting over the plight of hundreds of Belarusians currently being held on politically motivated charges by the regime of dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Mar 15, 2021

Fears mount as jailed Belarusian blogger resumes hunger strike

By Hanna Liubakova

Jailed Belarusian blogger Ihar Losik began a new hunger strike on March 11. He is one of hundreds of Belarusians that the Lukashenka regime is accused of holding on politically motivated charges.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Mar 10, 2021

Putin’s stealth takeover of Belarus gains momentum

By Brian Whitmore

As the Belarus crisis enters its seventh month, the strategy of Vladimir Putin’s regime is coming into clearer focus: leverage the unrest to secure Moscow’s long-term dominance over the country.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Mar 10, 2021

Belarus opposition leader calls on West to get tough

By Vladislav Davidzon

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is calling on Western governments to adopt a far tougher stance towards dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka in order to bring his 26-year reign to an end.

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?

Protest mood spreads from Belarus to Russia as calls grow for post-Soviet change

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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Protest mood spreads from Belarus to Russia as calls grow for post-Soviet change

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
Protest mood spreads from Belarus to Russia as calls grow for post-Soviet change

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

Jan 27, 2021

Protest mood spreads from Belarus to Russia as calls grow for post-Soviet change

By Brian Whitmore

As Russians took to the streets across eleven time zones on January 23 to protest the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, many of them also had protests in neighboring Belarus on their minds.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Jan 20, 2021

Can stalling tactics save the wily Belarusian dictator?

By Vladislav Davidzon

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has sought to defuse protests against his regime by promising to step down following constitutional reform, but critics believe he is merely trying to buy time.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Jan 20, 2021

Belarus presents the West with an opportunity to be on the right side of history

By Brian Whitmore

In shunning dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka and embracing Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the opposition, the West is on the right side of history in Belarus. It must now make sure that it stays there.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Jan 13, 2021

Calls mount to strip Belarus dictator of right to host 2021 hockey world championship

By Doug Klain

Calls are mounting for Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka to be stripped of the right to co-host the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship over the brutal suppression of pro-democracy protests.

Belarus Elections

BelarusAlert

Jan 13, 2021

Vladimir Putin has nothing but bad options in Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

Vladimir Putin knows his support for dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is poisoning attitudes towards Russia in neighboring Belarus, but he cannot allow a democratic uprising to succeed so close to home.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Jan 7, 2021

Is Russia preparing to replace Belarus dictator Lukashenka?

By Vladislav Davidzon

As Moscow works to create an advantageous outcome in Minsk, are there plans to replace Lukashenka with a pro-Kremlin movement of Belarusians?

Belarus Political Reform

BelarusAlert

Dec 21, 2020

Terror tactics fail to stop the rise of a democratic Belarus

By Hanna Liubakova

By seeking to subjugate his own population, dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is unwittingly pushing the Belarusian people away from the Soviet past and towards a democratic European future.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Dec 19, 2020

US poised to boost support for democracy in Belarus

By Vladislav Davidzon

Belarus looms large on the US foreign policy agenda for 2021. Senators can set the stage for the year ahead by passing the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights and Sovereignty Act of 2020.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Dec 18, 2020

How secure is Belarus dictator Lukashenka’s throne of bayonets?

By Vladislav Davidzon

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's political survival depends on the continued loyalty of his extensive security apparatus—but just how secure is this throne of bayonets?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Dec 10, 2020

Russia in retreat as the Soviet collapse continues

By Peter Dickinson

Russia suffered a series of setbacks in its own neighborhood during 2020 that underlined the counterproductive nature of Moscow's imperial approach to the post-Soviet world.

Belarus Central Asia
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