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

LATEST ANALYSIS

BelarusAlert

Sep 18, 2020

Sanctions against Belarus must also target Russia

By Anders Åslund

The US and EU are preparing to impose sanctions on Belarus over the Lukashenka regime’s violent crackdown on protests. To be effective, sanctions should also target Lukashenka’s Russian allies.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 17, 2020

Belarus national awakening offers hope for Ukraine as Soviet collapse continues

By Solomiia Bobrovska

Belarus has emerged from its post-Soviet slumber and has set out on the road to democracy. This is good news for the Belarusians themselves. It is also a welcome development for Ukraine but less so for Russia.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 16, 2020

Putin risks turning Belarus from natural ally to enemy

By Hanna Liubakova

Vladimir Putin has successfully intervened in neighboring Belarus over the past month to prop up fellow post-Soviet dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka, but the cost may be rising anti-Russian sentiment.

Belarus Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Sep 15, 2020

The EU’s “grave concern” will not help Belarus

By Franak Viačorka

The Belarus crisis has exposed the EU’s foreign policy limitations, but a tougher European Union response could still succeed in bringing Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka to the negotiating table.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 10, 2020

Putin’s new constitution spells out modern Russia’s imperial ambitions

By Pavlo Klimkin, Volodymyr Ivanov and Andreas Umland

The constitutional amendments adopted by Russia in summer 2020 have far-reaching implications for the Russian population, but the potential repercussions are also causing considerable unease in Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Sep 8, 2020

Will Belarus follow Ukraine out of the Russian orbit?

By Taras Kuzio

By intervening in Belarus to prop up his fellow post-Soviet dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Vladimir Putin risks repeating the mistakes made in Ukraine and fueling anti-Russian sentiment among Belarusians.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Sep 7, 2020

Putin poised to buy Belarus

By Anders Åslund

Belarus’ dictator has turned to Russia to help overcome unprecedented protests against his 26-year reign—but the price of Kremlin backing may be the loss of control over the Belarusian economy.

Belarus Economy & Business

BelarusAlert

Sep 2, 2020

Bipartisan US Congress appeal calls for “greater leadership” in support of democracy in Belarus

By Peter Dickinson

As the crisis in Belarus continues to unfold, a bipartisan group of US Congress members has addressed a letter to Secretary Pompeo urging the Trump Administration to take a stronger stand.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 2, 2020

Putin’s Belarus intervention could be good for business

By Vladislav Inozemtsev

Russia’s escalating intervention in Belarus is driven by the Kremlin’s geopolitical concerns over the spread of democracy, but economic factors are also encouraging Moscow to prop up the Lukashenka regime.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 1, 2020

Belarus uprising faces Kremlin-backed crackdown

By Peter Dickinson

Belarusian pro-democracy protests are now in their fourth week but Russian support for beleaguered dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has revitalized his regime. How will the crisis evolve in the coming weeks?

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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