EDITOR’S PICKS

The infowar behind the Belarus revolution

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
The infowar behind the Belarus revolution

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
The infowar behind the Belarus revolution

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?

The infowar behind the Belarus revolution

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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The infowar behind the Belarus revolution

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
The infowar behind the Belarus revolution

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

Aug 30, 2020

The infowar behind the Belarus revolution

By Franak Viačorka

Belarusians have managed to outmaneuver the heavy-handed efforts of dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka to silence the protest movement, but now they must also overcome a Kremlin-run infowar.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 30, 2020

Why Putin cannot allow democracy to win in Belarus

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin has announced his readiness to send Russian security forces into Belarus to prop up fellow dictator Lukashenka. This could ruin bilateral ties, but it will prevent a new post-Soviet people power triumph.

Belarus Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Aug 27, 2020

Is Putin about to make a costly mistake in Belarus?

By Steven Pifer

Vladimir Putin says Russian forces are in place and ready for deployment to Belarus to prop up dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka - but direct intervention risks turning a generation of Belarusians into enemies.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Aug 27, 2020

Belarus crisis: Can Lukashenka survive a collapsing currency?

By Anders Åslund

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has spent the past few weeks fighting for his political life as a pro-democracy uprising threatens to end his 26-year reign. But could a currency crash prove his downfall?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 26, 2020

Belarus is a reminder that the USSR is still collapsing

By Franak Viačorka

With the emergence of an independent Belarusian national identity, we are entering a new stage in the Soviet collapse. Thirty years after the empire officially expired, the last outpost of Soviet authoritarianism in Central Europe is finally in eclipse.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 25, 2020

Belarus reborn

By Carl Gershman

Pro-democracy protests have transformed Belarus into a nation reborn. Whatever else happens, Lukashenka and his cronies simply cannot go back to business as usual after this summer of solidarity.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 23, 2020

Belarus crisis: Will the army remain loyal to Lukashenka?

By Keith Jones

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is facing the greatest challenge to his 26-year reign. As pro-democracy protests continue, much will depend on the role of the military. Will the army stay loyal or defect?

Belarus Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Aug 23, 2020

Showing support for the people of Belarus in their struggle for freedom

By Damon Wilson

All across Belarus today, average people turned out in the hundreds of thousands to say, “enough.” The world heard a consistent message: We love our nation. We want freedom for Belarus. And that means, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka must go.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 22, 2020

The Belarus revolution may be too velvet to succeed

By Vladislav Davidzon

Events in Belarus since August 9 have been genuinely historic, but with Russia now standing firmly behind Lukashenka, photogenic rallies and patchy strike action alone will not bring about historic change.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

Blog Post

Aug 22, 2020

Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava: ‘The international community should not stand aside’

By Melinda Haring, Franak Viačorka

Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kalesnikava dives deep on the future of the Belarusian protest movement.

Belarus Elections
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