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A conversation with leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

What can officials in the United States do to support the democratic movement in Belarus in the face of continuing repression and state terror from Lukashenka’s regime? Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus, joins live from the Atlantic Council to discuss.

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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 pro-democracy opposition plans to target sham referendum

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 pro-democracy opposition plans to target sham referendum

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 pro-democracy opposition plans to target sham referendum

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

Content

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

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

In the News

Dec 23, 2021

Temnycky in Euromaidan Press: How the EU can resolve the Belarus migrant crisis in three steps

By Atlantic Council

Belarus

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
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Experts

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation

Fellow

Michael Carpenter

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center Europe Center

Eastern Europe National Security
Melinda Haring

Fellow

Melinda Haring

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Civil Society

Staff

John E. Herbst

Senior Director

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Politics & Diplomacy

Staff

Daniel Hojnacki

Assistant Editor

Belarus Central Asia

Fellow

Adrian Karatnycky

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Democratic Transitions
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