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

Feb 23, 2022

Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

By Brian Whitmore

Vladimir Putin appears to have succeeded in the unofficial annexation of neighboring Belarus with news that Russian troops deployed ostensibly for military exercises will now remain in the country indefinitely.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Feb 21, 2022

Strengthening Belarus identity could complicate Putin’s soft annexation

By Alesia Rudnik

A strengthening sense of national identity in Belarus poses potential challenges for Russian President Vladimir Putin as he seeks to complete what many see as the unofficial annexation of the neighboring country.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Feb 16, 2022

NATO allies fear Putin’s Belarus military build-up will be permanent

By Brian Whitmore

At the moment all eyes are on the Ukrainian border. But regardless of how Vladimir Putin’s manufactured crisis in Ukraine ends, the threat to NATO’s eastern flank from Russia’s growing military presence in Belarus will remain.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Feb 9, 2022

Soviet Reunion: Belarus, Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s dreams of empire

By Brian Whitmore

Ukraine and Belarus are the first targets in Putin’s quest to revive the old empire. While the world watches Russia’s brinkmanship against Ukraine, Moscow is swiftly and quietly completing the takeover of Belarus.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Feb 7, 2022

Belarus emerges as key front in Putin’s war against Ukraine and the West

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

With tens of thousands of Russian troops currently deployed in Belarus, fears are mounting that the country could serve as a springboard for Vladimir Putin’s threatened full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Feb 2, 2022

While the world watches Ukraine, Putin is quietly occupying Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

As the world watches for a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is quietly occupying neighboring Belarus and dramatically altering the Eastern European security balance in Moscow’s favor.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Jan 26, 2022

Cyber partisans target Russian army in Belarus amid Ukraine war fears

By Peter Dickinson

A group of cyber activists known as the Belarusian Cyber-Partisans hacked into the Belarusian railway computer system this week in a bid to sabotage the deployment of Russian military units in the country.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Jan 26, 2022

Belarus joins Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine and the West

By Brian Whitmore

If Russia proceeds with its threatened full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is increasingly clear that Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka will also need to be viewed as a full combatant in Putin’s war.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Jan 23, 2022

Belarus pro-democracy opposition plans to target sham referendum

By Alesia Rudnik

Belarus will hold a referendum on February 27 over proposed constitutional changes. The vote may provide the country’s embattled pro-democracy opposition with a welcome opportunity to regroup and mobilize.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Jan 19, 2022

Ukraine faces mounting encirclement as Russian troops enter Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

From military deployments to cyber attacks, Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s Belarus is now clearly a full participant in Vladimir Putin’s escalating campaign against Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict
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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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