EDITOR’S PICKS

Putin deploys nuclear-capable missiles to Belarusian border with Ukraine

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
Putin deploys nuclear-capable missiles to Belarusian border with Ukraine

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
Putin deploys nuclear-capable missiles to Belarusian border with Ukraine

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

Mar 3, 2021

Spring showdown looms in Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus faces a hot spring season in 2021. Pro-democracy protesters are seeking the end of a 26-year dictatorship. The geopolitical implications mean Russia and the West will also be very much engaged.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Feb 24, 2021

Questions remain after Putin hosts Lukashenka

By Brian Whitmore

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed his Belarusian counterpart Alyaksandr Lukashenka to Sochi this week but it remains unclear exactly what was agreed during their summit meeting.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

BelarusAlert

Feb 22, 2021

US and EU must hold Russia accountable for enabling brutal Belarus crackdown

By Polina Sadovskaya

Belarus presents an opportunity for the US to partner with the EU in order to ensure that pressure is maintained not just on Alyaksandr Lukashenka, but on his enabler Vladimir Putin as well.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Feb 19, 2021

Belarus dictator Lukashenka seeks to silence the media

By Vladislav Davidzon

A Minsk court sentenced journalists Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova to two years in prison on February 18 in a case that highlights the war against free speech that is accompanying Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s crackdown on the country’s six-month pro-democracy uprising.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Feb 17, 2021

Soviet-style Belarus dictator goes back to the future

By Vladislav Davidzon

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s recent People’s Assembly was a Soviet-style affair designed to help him reclaim leadership of the country following six months of nationwide pro-democracy protests.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Feb 17, 2021

Innovative opposition defies Belarus dictator Lukashenka

By Brian Whitmore

The adaptive tactics of the Belarusian street, combined with the emergence of dissident security service veterans, illustrate that the Lukashenka regime and its Kremlin allies have lost the initiative.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Feb 17, 2021

Exploring Belarusian civil society

By Andrew D’Anieri

For more than six months, Belarus has been rocked by an unprecedented wave of pro-democracy protests. This brief guide aims to introduce some the NGOs active in Belarus as the country seeks historic change.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Feb 10, 2021

Is Russia slowly annexing Belarus in plain sight?

By Brian Whitmore

Moscow’s current efforts to turn Belarusian territory into a platform for Russia’s armed forces are accompanied by moves to accelerate an economic integration that could amount to a soft annexation.

Belarus Russia

BelarusAlert

Feb 3, 2021

Belarus national reinvention leaves little room for Russia

By Brian Whitmore

Vladimir Putin’s decision to prop up the Lukashenka dictatorship in Belarus has forced many Belarusians to rethink their attitudes towards Russia and fueled growing support for greater European integration.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Feb 1, 2021

Belarus protests echo in Russia: Will Putin repeat Lukashenka’s mistake?

By Vladislav Davidzon

The recent wave of anti-regime protests in Russia have taken inspiration from the six-month pro-democracy uprising in neighboring Belarus. Will Putin repeat Belarus dictator Lukashenka’s hardline response?

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?

Putin deploys nuclear-capable missiles to Belarusian border with Ukraine

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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Putin deploys nuclear-capable missiles to Belarusian border with Ukraine

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
Putin deploys nuclear-capable missiles to Belarusian border with Ukraine

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.

The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

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BelarusAlert

May 25, 2022

Putin deploys nuclear-capable missiles to Belarusian border with Ukraine

By Brian Whitmore

Alyaksandr Lukashenka warned the West this week that it was risking World War III by continuing to arm Ukraine, even as he allowed Russia to deploy nuclear-capable missiles on Belarusian territory near the Ukrainian border.

Arms Control Belarus

BelarusAlert

May 19, 2022

Belarus dictator targets anti-war saboteurs with death penalty

By Alesia Rudnik

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has introduced amendments to the country's capital punishment legislation that will make it possible to impose death sentences on anti-war saboteurs.

Belarus Civil Society

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

BelarusAlert

May 11, 2022

The Belarusian dictator’s dilemma

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka appears to recognize that Vladimir Putin's Ukraine War is going disastrously wrong and is desperate to distance himself but he remains completely dependent on the Kremlin.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

May 11, 2022

Belarusian volunteers see Ukraine war as stepping stone to a free Belarus

By Alesia Rudnik

The hundreds of Belarusians who are currently fighting for Ukraine believe that defeating Vladimir Putin's invasion is their best chance of liberating Belarus itself and bringing the Lukashenka dictatorship to an end.

Belarus Civil Society

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

BelarusAlert

May 8, 2022

Belarus dictator: Putin’s Ukraine invasion is not going according to plan

By Peter Dickinson

In a new Associated Press interview, Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has declared that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not going according to plan and should be brought to an end as soon as possible.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

May 4, 2022

Putin’s Ukraine War: Desperate Belarus dictator strikes back

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is seeking to introduce the death penalty for anti-war activists who are sabotaging Russian troop movements in protest over Belarus's supporting role in Putin's Ukraine invasion.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Apr 27, 2022

Putin’s Ukraine War leaves Lukashenka with nothing but bad options

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has gone against Belarusian public opinion and involved his country directly in Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Whoever now wins the war, his position will likely be weakened.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Apr 25, 2022

Wily Belarus dictator sees Putin’s war as an opportunity to end his isolation

By Alesia Rudnik

Wily Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is seeking to leverage his reluctant supporting role in Vladimir Putin's Ukraine War in order to revive relations with the Western world and end his international isolation.

Belarus Conflict
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