EDITOR’S PICKS

Russia loses patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka

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
Russia loses patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka

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
Russia loses patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka

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 20, 2022

Ukraine reveals Russian military plans for “full-scale invasion of Belarus”

By Brian Whitmore

With Belarusians uneasy over their country’s role in Putin’s Ukraine War, Moscow may revive earlier plans for the military takeover of Belarus if growing anti-war sentiment threatens to undermine Russian influence.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Apr 13, 2022

Putin’s Ukraine War: Belarus dictator switches from arsonist to firefighter

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is trying to change his role in Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine War from that of arsonist to firefighter as Belarusian public opinion firmly opposes any involvement in the conflict.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Apr 6, 2022

Belarusian railway rebellion disrupts Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine War

By Brian Whitmore

Railway workers in Belarus are staging a quiet rebellion against the country’s supporting role in Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine War and are creating headaches for Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Mar 30, 2022

Hundreds of Belarusians join Ukraine’s fight against Russian imperialism

By Brian Whitmore

Hundreds of Belarusians have volunteered to fight for Ukraine in the war against Putin’s Russia as anti-imperial forces across the former USSR seek to shake off authoritarian Kremlin influence.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Mar 29, 2022

Deep unease in Belarus over country’s role in Russian invasion of Ukraine

By Alesia Rudnik

Vladimir Putin is pushing Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka to join the invasion of Ukraine, but the war is deeply unpopular among Belarusians who fear direct participation will have catastrophic consequences.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Mar 29, 2022

Belarus dictator under pressure to join Vladimir Putin’s failing Ukraine War

By Hanna Liubakova

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is coming under increasing pressure to join Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine War but there is no guarantee that unenthusiastic Belarusian troops will follow orders to invade.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Mar 22, 2022

Belarusians are sabotaging plans to join Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine War

By Brian Whitmore

As Vladimir Putin pressures Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka to join Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ordinary Belarusians are taking action to sabotage the war effort and prevent Russian troops from reaching Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Mar 16, 2022

Ukrainian military successes force Belarus to rethink role in Putin’s war

By Brian Whitmore

The fierce Ukrainian resistance to Russia’s invasion is getting inside the heads of Belarusian military leaders and causing them to question the wisdom of joining Vladimir Putin’s war.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Mar 9, 2022

Belarusian military reluctant to join Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine War

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus was widely expected to join the Russian invasion of Ukraine but indications are growing that the Belarusian military is strongly opposed to any involvement in Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Mar 2, 2022

Putin’s Ukraine War fuels protest mood in Russia and Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has sparked the biggest European conflict since WWII and is now fueling a growing anti-war protest mood in both Russia and Belarus.

Belarus Civil Society
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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?

Russia loses patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka

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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Russia loses patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka

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
Russia loses patience with Belarus dictator Lukashenka

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

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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