EDITOR’S PICKS

Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

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
Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

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
Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

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

Jan 17, 2022

The Putin Doctrine: Russia defends autocrats from Belarus to Kazakhstan

By Victor Tregubov

The deployment of a Russia-led military mission to Kazakhstan in early January proved to be a short-lived affair. Nevertheless, it underlined Putin’s growing role as the world’s leading defender of authoritarianism.

Belarus Central Asia

BelarusAlert

Jan 12, 2022

Soviet reunion in the air as USSR centenary approaches

By Brian Whitmore

2022 will see the one hundredth anniversary of the USSR. The centenary comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly reasserting Moscow’s influence across the former Soviet empire.

Belarus Central Asia

BelarusAlert

Jan 11, 2022

Belarus dictator prepares to extend reign via farcical referendum

By Hanna Liubakova

A Belarusian referendum on constitutional changes in early 2022 looks set to prolong the country’s deep political crisis and strengthen Kremlin-backed dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s grip on power.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Jan 9, 2022

From Kazakhstan to Belarus, aftershocks of Soviet collapse continue

By Alesia Rudnik

The crisis is Kazakhstan is a reminder that more than thirty years since the USSR ceased to exist, the aftershocks of authoritarian empire continue to shape the geopolitical landscape from Minsk to Almaty.

Belarus Central Asia

BelarusAlert

Jan 5, 2022

Putin’s pick for Belarus ambassador reveals Russia’s imperial agenda

By Brian Whitmore

This year marks the centenary of the USSR. The appointment of heavyweight figure Gryzlov as Moscow’s envoy to Belarus suggests Putin intends to mark this anniversary by putting the old empire back together again.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Dec 22, 2021

Putin’s nuclear blackmail in Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

The prospect of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is very real, and arguably very likely. And the prospect of Russian nuclear weapons in Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s Belarus also no longer seems far-fetched.

Arms Control Belarus

BelarusAlert

Dec 21, 2021

Documentary captures dramatic fight for democracy in Belarus

By Diane Francis

Powerful documentary film “Courage” aptly portrays the ongoing tragedy of Belarus and the recent attempt by its people to overthrow their repressive dictatorship and embrace a more democratic form of government.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Dec 15, 2021

Belarus joins Vladimir Putin’s Russia behind Europe’s new Iron Curtain

By Brian Whitmore

Europe’s new Iron Curtain runs along the western frontiers of Russia and Belarus. Over the past year, Putin has successfully solidified Moscow’s dominance over Belarus. The Kremlin leader now appears determined to subdue Ukraine by force.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Dec 8, 2021

Belarus, Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin’s expanding imperial agenda

By Brian Whitmore

It would be a mistake to view the 16-month-old political crisis in Belarus and Russia’s brinkmanship on the Ukrainian border as separate affairs. They are both part and parcel of Putin’s post-Soviet imperial agenda.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Dec 1, 2021

Putin’s little helper: Belarus dictator opens second front against Ukraine

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has declared his readiness to join Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine as Russian and Belarusian forces prepare to conduct joint military exercises along the Ukrainian border.

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?

Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

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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Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

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
Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

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

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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