Eastern Europe

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

State of the Order: Assessing January 2021

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

European leadership: Transatlantic relations and the future of Belarus

The Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office organized a webinar on the topic of ”European Leadership: Transatlantic relations and the Future of Belarus”.

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 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.