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

LATEST ANALYSIS

BelarusAlert

Sep 3, 2021

Broadening the pressure on the Lukashenka regime

By Daniel Fried

Recent news of fresh IMF financing for Belarus has sparked controversy at a time when the democratic world is seeking to impose sanctions on the country’s Kremlin-backed dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

Sep 1, 2021

Putin militarizes Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

Russian anti-aircraft missile crews arrived at a new base in Belarus last week as Vladimir Putin continues to transform his small western neighbor into an unofficial extension of Russia’s Western Military District.

Belarus Russia

BelarusAlert

Aug 25, 2021

Lukashenka goes all in with Putin

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues to escalate his confrontation with the West in an apparent bid to convince Russia’s Vladimir Putin that he remains a loyal and indispensable ally.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

BelarusAlert

Aug 18, 2021

Belarus dictator escalates EU border migrant crisis

By Brian Whitmore

The crisis on Belarus’s borders with the EU continues to escalate as Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka weaponizes illegal migrants as part of his hybrid war against Europe.

Belarus European Union

BelarusAlert

Aug 15, 2021

Struggle for a democratic Belarus enters second year

By Vladislav Davidzon

Twelve months since Belarusians first shocked the world with an unprecedented wave of protests against dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the nation’s biggest post-Soviet political crisis is still far from resolved.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Aug 11, 2021

Lukashenka “negotiates” his political future with Moscow

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka marked the first anniversary of a pro-democracy protest movement that threatens to topple his regime by attacking the West and pledging his complete loyalty to the Kremlin.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 9, 2021

The new US sanctions on Belarus: Strong, but not enough

By Daniel Fried, Brian O’Toole

A reasonable set of targets, the sanctions are welcome news for the Belarusian opposition. But are they powerful enough to rattle President Lukashenka?

Belarus Eastern Europe

BelarusAlert

Aug 9, 2021

Dictator vs democracy: Belarus one year on

By Peter Dickinson

On the first anniversary of the pro-democracy protest movement in Belarus, the Atlantic Council invited a range of Belarusian and international experts to share their views on how the past year has changed the country.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 7, 2021

Belarus dictator’s terror tactics backfire at Tokyo Olympics

By Katia Glod

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s terror tactics were thrust into the international spotlight at the Tokyo Olympics when one of his country’s athletes refused orders to fly home early and instead fled to Poland.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 4, 2021

Belarus dissident death in Ukraine fuels fears over Lukashenka death squads

By Brian Whitmore

The suspicious death of exiled Belarus dissident Vital Shyshou in Kyiv this week is fueling speculation over dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s use of death squads to eliminate political opponents across Europe.

Belarus Non-Traditional Threats
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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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