EDITOR’S PICKS

Putin’s willing provocateur: Lukashenka escalates EU border crisis

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’s willing provocateur: Lukashenka escalates EU border crisis

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’s willing provocateur: Lukashenka escalates EU border crisis

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 3, 2021

Broadening the pressure on the Lukashenka regime

By Daniel Fried

Recent news of fresh IMF financing for Belarus has sparked controversy at a time when the democratic world is seeking to impose sanctions on the country’s Kremlin-backed dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

Sep 1, 2021

Putin militarizes Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

Russian anti-aircraft missile crews arrived at a new base in Belarus last week as Vladimir Putin continues to transform his small western neighbor into an unofficial extension of Russia’s Western Military District.

Belarus Russia

BelarusAlert

Aug 25, 2021

Lukashenka goes all in with Putin

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues to escalate his confrontation with the West in an apparent bid to convince Russia’s Vladimir Putin that he remains a loyal and indispensable ally.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

BelarusAlert

Aug 18, 2021

Belarus dictator escalates EU border migrant crisis

By Brian Whitmore

The crisis on Belarus’s borders with the EU continues to escalate as Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka weaponizes illegal migrants as part of his hybrid war against Europe.

Belarus European Union

BelarusAlert

Aug 15, 2021

Struggle for a democratic Belarus enters second year

By Vladislav Davidzon

Twelve months since Belarusians first shocked the world with an unprecedented wave of protests against dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the nation’s biggest post-Soviet political crisis is still far from resolved.

Belarus Civil Society

BelarusAlert

Aug 11, 2021

Lukashenka “negotiates” his political future with Moscow

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka marked the first anniversary of a pro-democracy protest movement that threatens to topple his regime by attacking the West and pledging his complete loyalty to the Kremlin.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 9, 2021

The new US sanctions on Belarus: Strong, but not enough

By Daniel Fried, Brian O’Toole

A reasonable set of targets, the sanctions are welcome news for the Belarusian opposition. But are they powerful enough to rattle President Lukashenka?

Belarus Eastern Europe

BelarusAlert

Aug 9, 2021

Dictator vs democracy: Belarus one year on

By Peter Dickinson

On the first anniversary of the pro-democracy protest movement in Belarus, the Atlantic Council invited a range of Belarusian and international experts to share their views on how the past year has changed the country.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 7, 2021

Belarus dictator’s terror tactics backfire at Tokyo Olympics

By Katia Glod

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s terror tactics were thrust into the international spotlight at the Tokyo Olympics when one of his country’s athletes refused orders to fly home early and instead fled to Poland.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 4, 2021

Belarus dissident death in Ukraine fuels fears over Lukashenka death squads

By Brian Whitmore

The suspicious death of exiled Belarus dissident Vital Shyshou in Kyiv this week is fueling speculation over dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s use of death squads to eliminate political opponents across Europe.

Belarus Non-Traditional Threats
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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’s willing provocateur: Lukashenka escalates EU border crisis

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’s willing provocateur: Lukashenka escalates EU border crisis

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’s willing provocateur: Lukashenka escalates EU border crisis

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

Oct 13, 2021

Putin’s willing provocateur: Lukashenka escalates EU border crisis

By Brian Whitmore

Shots were fired at the Belarusian-Polish border last week as Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's hybrid war against the European Union threatened to escalate further amid the weaponization of migrants.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Oct 13, 2021

How sustainable is the Belarusian economy?

By Anders Åslund

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka faces mounting sanctions pressure but the Soviet-style Belarusian economy will likely prove sustainable unless the West focuses pressure on Lukashenka's Russian enablers.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

Oct 6, 2021

West seeks new ways to hold Belarus dictator Lukashenka accountable

By Brian Whitmore

US and EU leaders are exploring new options as they seek to hold Kremlin-backed Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka accountable for his increasingly brazen violations of international norms.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

BelarusAlert

Sep 30, 2021

Want to assess Ukraine’s progress? Look at Belarus

By Vitaliy Sych

Perhaps the best way to gauge Ukraine's post-Soviet progress is to compare the country's media freedoms and fledgling democracy with the authoritarian environment in neighboring Belarus and Russia.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Sep 29, 2021

Lukashenka vs. Ukraine

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has accused NATO of establishing military bases in Ukraine and has vowed to respond together with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Sep 23, 2021

No regrets: One Woman in White’s story from exile

By Melinda Haring

Anastasia Kostyugova is one of the hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who have fled their country since 2020. “My mother is in prison. I’m in exile. I didn’t expect this. We didn’t understand the value of human rights and democracy,” Kostyugova affirms.

Belarus Resilience & Society

BelarusAlert

Sep 22, 2021

Russia fears the Belarusization of Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

Moscow commentators are alarmed by signs of strengthening national identity in Belarus and warn that "Belarusization" could lead to a decline in Russian influence, much as it has done in nearby Ukraine.

Belarus Resilience & Society

BelarusAlert

Sep 15, 2021

Russian-Belarusian military merger accelerates on NATO’s eastern flank

By Brian Whitmore

The accelerating military merger between Russia and Belarus is dramatically altering the regional security equation and creating an authoritarian army on the European Union's eastern frontier.

Belarus Russia

BelarusAlert

Sep 14, 2021

Belarus dictator poses growing threat to Ukraine

By Lisa Yasko

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's growing dependence on the Kremlin is allowing Vladimir Putin to expand his military presence in Belarus and creating a new front in Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Sep 8, 2021

Belarus and Europe’s new Iron Curtain

By Brian Whitmore

Kremlin-backed Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's weaponization of illegal migration has forced neighboring EU members to introduce tougher border restrictions and led to talk of a new Iron Curtain.

Belarus European Union
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