Newsletter on Belarus Freedom Forum

Unnoticed Anschluss of Belarus

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 05:34:32 +0000

Despite maintaining the facade of Belarus as an independent state, the quiet takeover of Belarus by Russia has happened. The illegitimate usurper of power, Lukashenka, and the Russian president Putin signed the integration road maps and the military agreement in November 2021. The Russian troops are stationed in Belarus and use Belarusian territory and infrastructure for the missile strikes and on-the-ground invasion of Ukraine. The newly amended constitution includes the provision of a close political, economic, and military union with Russia. As the new constitution takes effect on March 15, Belarus is no longer neutral and may host nuclear weapons.

Russia invades Ukraine with Lukashenka’s help

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:24:25 +0000

As Russia leverages help from Belarus to invade Ukraine from three sides, the Ukrainian army, outgunned and outnumbered, keeps up fierce resistance. The West steps up its efforts to contain Russia’s aggression and help Ukraine fight back. Belarus’s regime faces additional punitive measures for its role in the invasion.

Joint military exercise in Belarus is a flimsy cover for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 21:56:21 +0000

Russia deployed tens of thousands of troops in Belarus. Russian troops will remain in Belarus on a permanent or rotational basis under the pretext of completing the drills. Controversial constitutional amendments will remove the country’s neutrality status and allow the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus. There will be no polling stations outside of Belarus. The IMF’s $1 bln. did nothing to prevent accelerating the COVID crisis in Belarus. As political prisoners go on hunger strikes and Belarusians flee from persecution and economic collapse, the need for Temporary Protected Status for Belarusian refugees in the U.S. becomes more acute.

Belarus’s Lukashenka threatens war with Ukraine, as the U.S. charges high ranking Belarusian officials over the RyanAir plane hijacking

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 08:41:50 +0000

The ongoing crisis over Ukraine has been exacerbated by recent Lukashenka’s claims that he’s willing to go to war with Ukraine if either Belarus or Russia is attacked. Russia has been increasing its military presence in Belarus, including in areas close to Ukraine, in preparation for the upcoming joint military drills.

Underground Journalism and Russian Military Occupation in Belarus

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 23:45:36 +0000

The Russian Federation is widening its military presence in Belarus: the two countries have already announced their joint military exercises in February. Belarusian journalists and human rights activists continue their work against Lukashenka’s regime despite the threats and possibilities of the arrest. The Baltic states saw their economic trade with Belarus increase in 2021, despite the harsh rhetoric towards Lukashenka’s regime.

Belarusian Revolution Continues

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Thirty years after the fall of the Soviet Union, Lukashenka’s Belarus economically and politically has moved closer to Russia, partially fulfilling Putin’s dream of restoration of the Russian empire. After the massive pro-democracy protests in Belarus, the Lukashenka regime openly embraced violence and repressions, the ideology of confrontation with the West, and democratic principles. Lukashenka’s Belarus silenced and eliminated political opponents, orchestrated migrant crisis on the Belarus-EU border, and pledged full support to Putin’s aggressive plans toward Ukraine.

Key Events: November 2-15

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Lukashenka’s escalation of the refugee crisis at the EU border indicates his apparent confidence in Putin’s support and Russian contributions to sustain the Belarusian economy. Claiming that he has nothing to do with the hybrid warfare at the Eastern EU border, Putin revealed his intentions and provided support to his ally, Lukashenka. Both Lukashenka and Putin are using the situation to increase the number of troops and military equipment in Belarus and in the Western direction. While the world is focused on the border crisis, Lukashenka continues usurping the power through repressions, eradicating all independent media and civil society, postponing the local elections, and preparing the referendum on the constitutional change.

Key Events: October 26-31

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Border Crisis continues to destabilize Europe. Belarus closes last U.S. diplomacy offices. New prospects of integration with Russia. Journalist charged with “Treason” for investigating riot police. German broadcaster DW blocked in Belarus. Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich speaks about human rights in Belarus. Western envoys in Minsk commemorate victims of soviet terror.

Key Events: October 18-25

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Belarus scraps short-lived mask mandates amid virus surge. Belgium is pushing to dilute the E.U.’s Belarus potash sanctions. Germany sees key to Belarus migrant problem in Moscow. EU Ministers discuss new measures against Belarus over migrants. Poland doubles troops on border with Belarus. PEN: Violations of human rights against cultural workers 2021. Belarus and Russia prepare joint military doctrine. Belarus’ opposition leader send message to India. Belarusian man revealed videos of torture in Russian prisons.

Key Events: October 11-17

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

French ambassador ordered out of Belarus. Seven years in prison for following a Telegram channel. The E.U. accuses Belarus of luring global migrants into other European countries. Belarusians live in an increasingly divided country. Ministry of Justice suspends Tsikhanouski’s key lawyer Natallia Matskevich. Belarus to close New York consulate “at U.S. request.” iSANS analyst Alexander Morozov goes through factors that will play out in the politics of Russia and Belarus in the next few years. Estonia: Events in Belarus threaten the stability of our region. Belarus regime “has used football as propaganda.”

Key Events: October 4-11

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

European Parliament votes for resolution on Belarus. Gulagu.net: Russian special services assisted Belarusian counterparts in torturing protesters in 2020. Russian paper shuts Belarus branch after journalist’s arrest. Belarus authorities purge hundreds of human rights defenders. Pandora Papers: Belarusian elites’ golden deal with Zimbabwe. In Iraq Kurdish town, many undertake smuggling route to Europe via Belarus. Belarusian Colonel gets two years in prison after attending anti-Lukashenka rally. Lukashenka’s pliant Parliament pledges new repression. Visa-free travel to Belarus from the United States is cancelled. Gazprom cuts gas to EU via Belarus by 70 percent. Finland opens investigations after migrants from Belarus arrive via Estonia. Moody’s changes its outlook on Belarus from ‘stable’ to ‘negative.’

Key Events: September 27 - October 3

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Shooting in Minsk, dozens detained over social-media comments. Belarus should face further action over plane diversion, U.S. nominee says. Belarus' Kalesnikava awarded Vaclav Havel Human Rights prize. Washington Post Opinion: Lukashenka is exploiting migrants as a weapon against his neighbors; the E.U. must stop him. Former Naftan legal advisor detained in Russia and handed over to Belarusian KGB. EU official: No dealing with ‘desperate’ Lukashenka. Eurasian Economic Commission coordinating EAEU response to Western sanctions.

Key Events: September 20-26

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Fifth migrant dies in Belarus border area. Human rights in Belarus continue downward spiral, warns the UN commissioner on human rights. Report highlights Belarus’s ‘repressive’ campaign against internet freedom. Supreme Court rules to close down World Association of Belarusians. Detained employees of Hrodna Azot are put in KGB jail. The future of the Eurasian Economic Union. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) Hearing: Seeking Justice and Freedom in Belarus. Russia fears Belarusization of Belarus.

Key Events: September 13-19

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

How Belarus’ “Cyber Partisans” exposed secrets of Lukashenka’s crackdowns. Belarusian opposition leader urges “decisive action” to resolve standoff. Belarus accused of using Interpol to harass opponents abroad. 4 found dead, 7 more hospitalized on Belarus-Poland border. Belarus suspends probe into killing of anti-government protester. Belarus’ dictator poses growing threat to Ukraine. Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s statement on Zapad 2021 military exercises. Belarus leader reviews joint Russian military drills, touts $1 bln arms deals. Tsikhanouskaya’s team discuss with Ukrainian politicians termination of cooperation with Lukashenka’s regime. John Oliver unveils teddy bear plan to get under Belarusian dictator’s skin.

Key Events: September 6-13

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Putin and Lukashenka move to integrate economies of Russia and Belarus. Russia begins major military drills with Belarus after moves toward closer integration. IOM concerned for migrants facing “dire conditions” at EU-Belarus border. Lukashenka wants to suspend EU agreement on migrants. IMF to launch virtual mission to Belarus to gather data on economy. Belarus and Europe’s new Iron Curtain. German President and Chancellor assure Poland of backing in crisis with Belarus. U.N. blocked from monitoring rights abuses in Belarus, envoy says. Secretary of State statement on sentencing of Belarusian opposition figures. RBC: Belarus starts negotiations about $3 bln loan. Belarus' export up by 32.2% to $26bn in January-July. Deciphering Russia’s Zapad-21 strategic military exercise.

Key Events: August 30 - September 6

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Belarus opposition leader sentenced to 11 years in prison. Lukashenka and Putin will sign all road maps on integration of Belarus and Russia. Putin militarizes Belarus. The IMF needs to sync its Belarus policy with the West. RSF urges international support for “persecuted” Belarusian journalists. Belarusian Cyber Partisans want to overthrow the regime through hacking. Broadening the pressure on the Lukashenka regime. Russian military to create Russian-Belarusian combat training center in Hrodna. Europe’s latest migrant crisis leaves refugees stuck between two borders. Belarus authorities close down environmental watchdog Ecodom. Cummins stops cooperation with BelAZ. Lithuania pushes for E.U. ban on Belavia leases. “I ask to stand up for good”: Political prisoner Ihar Losik sends letter to Pope Francis. Belarus journalist chosen as inaugural winner of Hinzpeter Awards.

Key Events: August 23-29

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Last year, we saw a million people on the streets of Belarus. Those people have not disappeared, their opinion of Lukashenka did not change (Images from August 23, 30 protests in 2020). Top Stories Aug 23: IMF gives €850m to Belarus despite fierce opposition The IMF awarded a payment totaling $1 billion to Belarus despite the lack of recognition of the current Belarusian government by the international community.

Key Events: August 16-22

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Collage series dedicated to the events 2020 in Minsk - Artist: Carolina Poliakowa Top Stories Aug 16: Belarusian activist who slit his own throat in court gets lengthy prison term Political prisoner Stsiapan Latypau was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison and a $4,000 fine on Monday, as the prosecution requested. Latypau pleaded not guilty to all charges. Earlier, he attempted suicide in the courtroom, alleging pressure to enter a guilty plea under threats of retaliation to his family.

Key Events: August 9-15

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Project Cell #18 is a collection of stories from Akrestina prison where 36 women were kept in a 4-person cell for days without access to food, water or clean air Top Stories Aug 12: Belarus to get $1 billion from IMF, undermining U.S. push Belarus’s authoritarian regime is set to get almost a $1 billion lifeline from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on August 23. The IMF insists that its actions are guided by the international community, which “continues to deal with the current government in Belarus”.

Key Events: August 2-8

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

August 9 marks one year anniversary of peaceful protests movement in Belarus Top Stories Aug 2: Poland grants Belarus Olympic sprinter Tsimanouskaya a humanitarian visa Krystina Tsimanouskaya, who narrowly escaped a forced return to Belarus from the Tokyo Olympics, has been granted a humanitarian visa in Poland. The sprinter’s place on the Olympic team was abruptly revoked after she criticized the Belarusian athletics federation on her social media.

Key Events: July 26 - August 1

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This past week: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets President Biden, Belarusian Olympic sprinter is being forcibly removed from the Olympics and sent home & much more Top Stories Aug 1: Belarusian Olympic sprinter says she is being pressured to leave Tokyo after criticizing her country’s Olympic officials Krystsina Tsimanouskaya who was due to compete in the women’s 200m event on Monday, had complained on social media about being asked to run a different race at a short notice.

Key Events: July 19-25

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visits Washington DC to seek help from US, while Belarus’ regime brutal crackdown on civil society continues Top Stories Jul 19: Blinken meets Belarus opposition leader as criticism against Lukashenka mounts US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and promised “to continue efforts to stand with the Belarusian people and their aspirations for human rights, democracy, and their broader Euro-Atlantic aspirations.” The meeting happened in the context of yet another series of crackdowns on the democratic opposition by the Lukashenka regime.

Key Events: July 12-18

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Vertical of Power - Artist: Lilia Kvatsabaya Top Stories Jul 14: Belarus targets rights activists, journalists with raids More than 40 raids took place across Belarus targeting the Human Rights center Viasna, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the Belarusian Association of Journalists and others. Law enforcement raided groups that work on a wide range of human rights issues, including human rights education, social and economic rights, protection of media workers, freedom of expression online etc.

Key Events: July 5-11

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Intense crackdown on remaining independent media, repressions against Lukashenka’s political rivals & Belarus isolation continues Top Stories Jul 9: Belarus scales up crackdown on independents media The country’s law enforcement agencies have raided offices of several media outlets and conducted more than 30 searches at the offices and journalists’ apartments in the past two days. The state declared the raids and following arrests a part of a broad operation against “radical-minded individuals”, who have consistently covered months of protests and repressions that followed.

Key Events: June 28 - July 4

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Love cannot be compelled - Artist: Lilia Kvatsabaya Top Stories Jul 3: Lithuania declares state of emergency due to migration surge from Belarus After detaining 150 illegal migrants who crossed the border from Belarus in one day, Lithuania declared a state of emergency. Lithuania government officials stated that the decision was made to access reserve state financing and find new ways to deal with the illegal immigration influx.

Key Events: June 21-27

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Human Rights violations tracker - International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Top Stories Jun 21: EU, US, UK, Canada join forces to slap sanctions on Belarus The four have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 78 Belarus officials and 8 entities. A total of 166 people and 15 entities are now under EU restrictive measures. EU foreign ministers agreed to sanction key sectors of the Belarusian economy and major revenue sources for the regime: potash fertilizer exports, the tobacco industry, petroleum, and petrochemical products.

Key Events: June 14-20

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Artist: Lilia Kvatsabaya Top Stories Jun 14: Opposition says jailed Belarusian blogger paraded as ‘trophy’ in latest public appearance Several news agencies left the press conference after jailed Belarusian journalist Roman Pratasevich joined the four uniformed officials there. Even though Pratasivech denied any wrongdoing by the state authorities after the plane carrying him was forced to land in Minsk, most of the opposition figures called his admissions coerced.

Key Events: June 7-13

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Belarus flight diversion - Patrick Chappatte (Der Spiegel) Top Stories Jun 10: Poland hits back as Belarus makes a Soviet invasion anniversary a public holiday Poland has criticized Belarus for establishing a holiday dedicated to people’s unity on 17 September - the day the USSR invaded Poland and Ukraine during World War II. “The establishment of a Day of People’s Unity to mark Belarus’s inclusion in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is the glorification of Soviet heritage and an attempt to cut Belarus off from its true roots," Poland said.

Key Events: May 31 - June 6

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Raman Pratasevich, journalist kidnapped from hijacked Ryanair plane - coerced to do an interview on Belarus state television (ONT TV Channel/Reuters) Top Stories Jun 4: Detained Belarus dissident breaks down in state TV interview, renewing fears of coercion and torture Footage of kidnapped journalist Raman Pratasevich that aired on Belarusian state television has raised concerns that he was being coerced to take part in political propaganda under duress.

Key Events: May 24-30

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Forbidden tree - Artist: Lilia Kvatsabay Top Stories May 25: Belarus is on the agenda of President Biden’s meeting with Putin in Switzerland Belarus will be discussed during the upcoming US/Russia summit in Switzerland. President Joe Biden is expected to discuss the situation in Belarus, given that Russian allies in Belarus grounded an international Ryanair flight to arrest a journalist on board. Many hope that Biden will confront Putin for his role in enabling the Lukashenka regime, as the crackdown on dissidents intensifies there.

Key Events: May 17-23

Mon, 24 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This week: Belarus regime is hijacking planes, cracking down on journalists, allowing police to use firearms on demonstrators & more Top Stories May 23: Ryanair flight carrying wanted Belarusian journalist forced to land in Minsk To arrest Raman Pratasevich, an exiled opposition journalist, Belarusian security forces hijacked an Irish airliner registered in Poland and flying from Greece to Lithuania. Right before Ryanair flight FR4978 could cross into Lithuanian airspace, Belarusian authorities used a combination of a fake bomb threat, instructions from Minsk air traffic control, and a military MiG-29 fighter jet to force the plane to land in Minsk.

Key Events: May 10-16

Mon, 17 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Long Live Belarus - Artist: Lilia Kvatsabaya Top Story The Human Rights Center Viasna reports that 17 years old Mikita Zalatarou, suffering from epilepsy, has been kept in solitary confinement in Belarusian prison. May 15, Mikita was “rearrested” and accused of an alleged “assault” of a prison employee. Mikita told his parents that he “won’t last in an isolation cell much longer.” In February 2021, the Belarusian authorities sentenced Mikita to 5 years in a correctional colony.

Key Events: May 3-9

Mon, 10 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Video made with support of Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Initiative of Florida Atlantic University Belarus and US May 3: US envoy Julie Fisher interview about Lukashenka and on state of Journalism The US Ambassador to Belarus, Julie Fisher, gave an extended interview to the news agency Belsat. She explained why she does not reside in Minsk and discussed the official status of Lukashenka, the possibility of Tsikhanouskaya visit to the United States, and the potential danger of Russian occupation of Belarus.

Key Events: April 26 - May 2

Mon, 03 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Top Stories Women march on the outskirts of Minsk in memory of Chernobyl Several dozen women, dressed in black and carrying black umbrellas and yellow and black ribbons, staged a demonstration in memory of the Chernobyl disaster in the Malinauka district on the outskirts of Minsk, where many of the families evacuated from the disaster area were settled. Later in the day, military and police forces flooded Minsk downtown and arrested about 20 people.

Key Events: April 19-25

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Top Story Lukashenko to amend emergency transfer of presidential power The Belarusian dictator is changing the procedure of the power transfer in case the president is unable to perform their duties. Under current law, the presidential power transfers to the prime minister. By the new decree, Lukashenka promised to sign the presidential powers would be transferred to the Security Council. The new head of the Security Council is Aliaksandr Valfovich, a military general.

Key Events: April 12-18

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Future - Artist: Lilia Kvatsabaya Top Story Belarusian KGB detains leader of opposition party, Political analyst U.S.-Belarusian lawyer ‘abducted’ in Moscow, transferred to Minsk Russian FSB detains two individuals plotting coup in Belarus, assassination of Lukashenka In a story developing over the week, Belarusian and Russian security services detained three individuals alleged to have been plotting a military coup in Belarus and an assassination of Belarus’ dictatorLukashenka. These alleged assassination plotters included: Yuri Zyankovich, a dual Belarus and US Citizen and a former activist who immigrated to the US in 2007 to become an immigration lawyer; Alexander Feduta, a literary critic and a political analyst, who was a member of the first Lukashenka election campaign back in 1994; Ryhor Kastusiou, leader of the BPF Party.

Key Events: April 5-11

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Svetlana is My President (left); Demonstration (right) - Artist: Rufina Bazlova Top Stories Israeli phone hacking firm stops sales to Belarus and Russia Cellebrite, an Israeli digital intelligence company, decided to cease business relations with the Russian and Belarusian governments. Reports have surfaced that the state security forces use Celebrite software to spy on political opposition. The company announcement underlines its desire to operate “according to accepted international rules and regulations.

Key Events: March 29 - April 4

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Older people impacted by Belarus state repression - read in Other. Top Stories Soft annexation: Inside the Russian takeover of Belarus Russia is getting plans underway for the takeover of Belarus. Unlike Georgia and Ukraine, the strategy is not to use military operations but instead rely on economic methods to achieve similar goals. By forcing tighter integration and absorbing key Belarusian assets, Russia is executing a soft annexation policy in “plain sight”.

Key Events: March 22-28

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Let’s help people find and kick bandits out of the city. Artwork, Minsk. BELARUS Mar 22: “He cut my underwear. Then he did what he did”. They wanted democracy. Instead they say they were beaten and raped by police CNN conducted dozens of interviews with the Belarusian protesters who went through the persecutions and torture. A blood-chilling story of Sergei, the Belarusian who was detained, beaten, arrested, and fearing the subsequent imminent arrest had to flee the country illegally crossing the Belarus-Ukraine border.

Key Events: March 15-21

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Artivism before Freedom Day near the building of the National Art Museum in Minsk Mar 15: Multinational firms under pressure to break ties with Belarus International firms like the German giant engineering company Siemens and Norwegian agro-giant Yara are increasingly the targets of massive online criticism campaigns over their business in Belarus. Their social media has been swamped with appeals not to “support violence and torture in Belarus” and stop dealing with the dictator.

Key Events: March 8-14

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Belarusian facial recognition software tracks dissidents Mar 08: Belarus opposition leader calls for global action, not words Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition, is appealing to the Western democracies “to prove that human rights is not just words for them.” The UN Human Rights Council is expected to adopt a resolution on the crisis in Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya would like the resolution to create a group of experts to monitor deteriorating conditions in Belarus.

Key Events: March 1-7

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS March 8: International Women’s Day Mar 1: Belarus enforces harsher penalties for protesting. Starting March 1, the Belarusian regime adopted new laws that significantly increase fines and introduce lengthier prison sentences for participating in unauthorized protests. Mar 2: Authoritarians emboldened by weak international response to the events in Belarus. While the EU, UK, and US offered their support to the opposition and have imposed personal sanctions against leading figures of the regime, the limited sanctions have not produced a significant impact.

Key Events: Feb 22-28

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Victim of politically motivated case is facing up to death penalty in charges Feb 22: Man is facing possible death sentence for driving away from security forces. Alexander Trocki, former deputy chairman of the board of JSC MTBank and director of Aliko-Trade company is accused of attempted murder of an employee of the internal affairs bodies. On Aug 12, Trocki’s car was stopped by unidentified security forces in balaclavas, who threatened him with a gun and began hitting his car.

Key Events: Feb 15-21

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Journalists sentenced to prison Feb 15: Belarus targets journalists, activists in new raids. Authorities in Belarus raided homes and offices of journalists and human rights activists Tuesday in the latest move to squelch protests against authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Police searched the offices of the Belarusian Association of Journalists and the Viasna human rights center as well as the apartments of its members, confiscating their equipment. More than 30 people were briefly detained, and at least three remained in police custody, according to the activists.

Key Events: Feb 8-14

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Belarusian film about August events selected for Berlin Film Festival Feb 9: TV journalists face three years in prison for reporting on Belarus protests. Two Belarusian journalists working for a Polish-based Belarusian channel Belsat are in court today. Belarusian authorities accused Kaciaryna Andreeva and Daria Chultsova of organizing “actions that grossly violate public order”. Kaciaryna and Daria deny the charges. The journalists are facing three years in prison.

Key Events: Feb 1-7

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS US Ambassador Julie Fisher with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Jan 31: Switzerland reporter detained in Belarus. Switzerland’s foreign minister said Sunday that a reporter for the country’s public broadcaster who was detained by police in Belarus has been freed. Luzia Tschirky, a correspondent for Swiss broadcaster SRF, said she was detained by masked men as she was heading to meet an acquaintance for coffee in Belarusian capital Minsk. SRF condemned the incident, saying Tschirky was detained “for no reason” and adding that she has a valid press accreditation for Belarus.

Key Events: Jan 25-31

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Jan 25: Up to 15 days in jail. New sentences for displaying flags and balloons on private balconies in Minsk. Minsk Lenin court has reviewed the case of Ivan Kavalchuk who was arrested yesterday for displaying white-red-white flag on the balcony window of his apartment. After the judge asked him why he displayed the flag in such colors, he replied “I like the color combination”. According to spring96.org, Ivan has received a sentence of 15 days in jail.

Key Events: Jan 18-24

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Safety Index 2021 Jan 18: Belarus stripped of ice hockey world championship after crackdown on protesters. Belarus has been stripped of the right to co-host this year’s ice hockey world championship due to safety concerns over political unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic there, the sport’s governing body said on Monday, in a blow to President Alexander Lukashenko. Volkswagen’s Skoda Auto and Liqui Moly, sponsors of the tournament, had threatened in the last few days to pull out if the event was to be held in Minsk.

Newsletter: Jan 11-17

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Jan 13: Outrage about hosting 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Belarus. René Fasel, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, is facing mounting criticism from Belarusian opposition and the international community for his controversial visit to Belarus and meeting with the unrecognized President of Belarus, Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Later, Fasel commented that “meeting went a bit wrong”. Jan 14: Belarusian blogger takes hunger strike into second month despite ‘worsening’ health.

Newsletter: Jan 4-10

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Jan 4: Lukashenko plotted murders in Germany. “Alexander Lukashenko authorised political murders in Germany in 2012”, according to a bugged recording of his former KGB-chief Vadim Zaitsev obtained and published by independent online newspaper EUobserver. EUobserver claims that it received a recording of a conversation between the former chairman of the KGB of Belarus, in which the physical elimination of some Belarusian political emigrants: Pavel Sheremet, former head of a detention center #1 in Minsk Oleg Alkaev, former commander of the OMON Vladimir Borodach, and former anti-corruption chief Vyacheslav Dudkin – is discussed.

Newsletter: Dec 28-Jan 3

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Dec 28: BYPOL: Tikhanovsky’s case files, audio of alleged ex Interior Minister’s speech leaked. BYPOL, a telegram channel of former investigators and law enforcers, published materials related to the arrest of Sergei Tikhanovsky. Among other things, there is an audio recording in which a man with a voice that sounds like Former Minister of Internal Affairs Yuri Karaev says that “he is more dangerous than all these Babarikos” and “he must be imprisoned for a long time.

Newsletter: Dec 21-28

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Dec 21: 40 days since the murder of Raman Bandarenka. No criminal case is yet opened. Minsk resident Raman Bandarenka passed away on November 12 at the age of 31. Allegedly, he was beaten to death by pro-Lukashenka thugs and/or police officers. Events in memory of Raman Bandarenka are held all over Belarus. Dec 21: Belarus authorities set up database of participants in ‘unauthorised rallies’. On the back of ‘the events of August 9’, the ministry decided to establish a special unified database which would include information about the citizens identified or detained during unauthorised mass events so that Belarusian law enforcers could widely use the data collected in their work.

Newsletter: Dec 14-21

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Dec 14: Minsk: Pensioners’ March dispersed, dozens detained. The Minsk police have thwarted Monday’s March of Pensioners, also known as Wisdom March. Over the past months, pro-opposition elderly Minskers have made Monday’s event an unofficial tradition; as a rule, they move along central streets to Yakub Kolas Square. Students and health workers often join the march. About 80 pensioners were detained. Dec 15: 87-year-old woman convicted in Minsk for flag on balcony.

Newsletter: Dec 7-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Dec 8: Two years in prison for writing on a sidewalk. Five Belarusians were judged guilty, four of them sentenced to prison terms for writing “We won’t forget” near the memorial to Alexander Taraikovsky who was murdered in Aug. Frunzensky district court judged 25-year old Maria Bobovich and 26-year old Maxim Pavlyuschik guilty of a felony and sentenced them to 2 years in prison and 1.5 years of restriction of freedom respectively.

Newsletter: Nov 30-Dec 7

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Nov 29: Sunday Neighbours’ March Stats: 400 detained. Over 400 people incl. two journalists were detained across the country last Sunday with many beaten and dozens hospitalized. Nov 30: Monday Pensioners March. To prevent the column from further marching, security forces used pepper spray and targeted detentions against protesters. Seniors March Dec 1: Newly established BY_POL group brings together law enforcement defectors. A number of defectors from the police, public prosecutor’s office, and other law enforcement agencies have formed a group BY_POL appealing to their former colleagues to serve the people and not the regime.

Newsletter: Nov 23-30

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

BELARUS Nov 23: Repressions target students’ unions. Belarusian human rights organizations demand freedom for politically repressed students and professors. The Belarusian authorities arrested leaders of the oldest student organization in Belarus, the Belarusian Students Association. The searches were conducted in the office of the BSA and in the students’ apartments. The arrested students and a professor are recognized to be political prisoners. Nov 23: Weekly Seniors’ March. Hundreds of retirees have protested in the Belarusian capital to demand the resignation of the usurper.