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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?

From dictatorship to democracy: Can Belarus make history on Sunday?

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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From dictatorship to democracy: Can Belarus make history on Sunday?

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
From dictatorship to democracy: Can Belarus make history on Sunday?

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

Aug 5, 2020

From dictatorship to democracy: Can Belarus make history on Sunday?

By Nicolai Khalezin

Belarusians go to the polls on Sunday in a presidential vote that is being billed as the biggest challenge to President Lukashenko for 26 years. Will the international community back the country's democratic opposition?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

Inflection Points

Aug 2, 2020

China focus might distract the U.S. from the possibility of a Putin surprise in Belarus and beyond

By Frederick Kempe

For all the legitimate focus on rising US-China tensions, this summer’s sleeper surprise for the West is more likely to emerge from Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The question is: will it grow from Russia’s strength, its weakness or some combination of the two?

Belarus Russia

BelarusAlert

Jul 20, 2020

Belarus presidential vote: Ukrainian MPs join calls for democratic breakthrough

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

The August 9 presidential election in Belarus promises to have major geopolitical ramifications for the entire region. A cross-party group of Ukrainian MPs has formed an association to support democracy in Belarus ahead of the vote.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Jul 3, 2020

Minsk Maidan? Belarus facing summer of discontent

By Victor Tregubov

Belarus has been an international backwater for much of the past 25 years, but it may soon find itself thrust into the geopolitical spotlight as tensions mount ahead of the country's August 9 presidential election.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Jun 15, 2020

Belarus presidential vote: Democratic breakthrough?

By Viktoriya Zakrevskaya

A combination of domestic and geopolitical factors makes the upcoming Belarusian presidential election the most important for a generation, but can Lukashenko be defeated democratically?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

In the News

Mar 7, 2020

Bryza joins TVP (Polish) to discuss British military exercises in Belarus and Russia’s relations with Belarus and Turkey

By Atlantic Council

Belarus Europe & Eurasia

Article

Feb 26, 2020

Anonymous pro-Russian Telegram channels target protests in Belarus

By Givi Gigitashvili

Amid ongoing economic integration talks between Russia and Belarus, eight channels attacked opponents of integration and spread pro-Kremlin narratives.

Belarus Disinformation

In the News

Feb 10, 2020

Carpenter speaks to The Daily Beast on Lukashenko’s Ukraine policy

By Atlantic Council

As former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Michael Carpenter speaks on longstanding Belarusian policies towards Ukraine. Related reading More about our expert

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 1, 2020

Fried joins NPR All Things Considered to discuss Pompeo’s visit to Minsk

By Atlantic Council

Amb. Daniel Fried speaks to Michele Kelemen on NPR's All Things Considered regarding Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Belarus, and the Trump Administration's quest to improve relations with the former Soviet republic.

Belarus Eastern Europe

UkraineAlert

Jan 20, 2020

Is Belarus Putin’s next target?

By Diane Francis

Vladimir Putin has been turning up the pressure on Belarus in recent months as Moscow seeks to move forward with plans to merge the country into a so-called Union State with Russia, but Minsk is proving evasive. Will Belarus be the scene of Putin's next big foreign policy adventure?

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy
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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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