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

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?

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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