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

Aug 21, 2020

History beckons but Belarus protests need leadership

By Franak Viačorka

Unprecedented pro-democracy protests in Belarus currently threaten to unseat 26-year dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka, but the protest movement needs leadership to bring about political change.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 20, 2020

Lukashenka is wrong to use Ukraine as a cautionary tale

By Paul Niland

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has warned that pro-democracy protests will turn Belarus into another Ukraine – but Ukaine’s woes are due to Russian aggression not the country’s 2014 revolution.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Aug 18, 2020

Belarus urgently needs European mediation

By Anders Åslund

Unprecedented pro-democracy protests have swept Belarus since a deeply flawed August 9 election. With dictator Lukashenka stripped of all legitimacy, only international mediation can help resolve the crisis.

Belarus Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Aug 17, 2020

Alarm bells in Ukraine as Lukashenka calls on Putin to rescue his crumbling regime

By Bohdan Nahaylo

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is on the verge of being swept out of office by a wave of pro-democracy protests. He has called on Putin to save his regime, sparking alarm in neighboring Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Aug 17, 2020

How the West should respond to Belarus

By Daniel Fried, Brian O’Toole

Belarus is experiencing a democratic awakening that could end 26 years of dictatorship and transform the regional geopolitical landscape. With Russia looming large over the crisis, how should the West respond?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 16, 2020

Why Vladimir Putin is unlikely to invade Belarus

By Anders Åslund

Belarus is experiencing an historic democratic awakening that looks set to oust Kremlin-friendly dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka – but Putin is highly unlikely to repeat his 2014 invasion of Ukraine.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 13, 2020

Europe must not abandon the new Belarus to Putin

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

Protests in Belarus over a rigged election have grabbed the world’s attention this week. However, this geopolitically important democratic awakening has little chance of success without Western support.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 10, 2020

Lukashenka vs. democracy: Where is Belarus heading?

By Peter Dickinson

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is facing the biggest crisis of his 26-year reign as protests erupt over attempts to falsify the country’s August 9 presidential election. Can he cling on to power?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 9, 2020

Europe’s last dictator: The rise and (possible) fall of Alyaksandr Lukashenka

By Anders Åslund

Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for 26 years and earned the dubious title of “Europe’s last dictator” but his country has experienced a pro-democracy awakening during this year’s presidential election campaign.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 5, 2020

From dictatorship to democracy: Can Belarus make history on Sunday?

By Nicolai Khalezin

Belarusians go to the polls on Sunday in a presidential vote that is being billed as the biggest challenge to President Lukashenko for 26 years. Will the international community back the country’s democratic opposition?

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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