EDITOR’S PICKS

Sanctions against Belarus must also target Russia

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
Sanctions against Belarus must also target Russia

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
Sanctions against Belarus must also target Russia

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

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?

Sanctions against Belarus must also target Russia

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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Sanctions against Belarus must also target Russia

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
Sanctions against Belarus must also target Russia

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

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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