About: Alexander Lukashenko
Lukashenko closes borders with Poland and Lithuania, says he doesn’t want ‘war’
Belarus will close its borders with EU neighbours Poland and Lithuania and step up security measures at the Ukrainian frontier, President Alexander Lukashenko announced on Thursday (17 September).
Seventeen OSCE nations appoint team to probe Belarus election fraud, torture
Seventeen members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have appointed an independent team of experts to investigate alleged rights violations in Belarus' August presidential election.
Poland proposes billion-euro EU fund for Belarus
Poland on Thursday (17 September) proposed an EU stabilisation fund for Belarus worth at least one billion euros, as a top opposition leader prepared to meet EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
European Parliament: Lukashenko should not be recognised as Belarus president
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko should no longer be recognised as president from November when his term expires, the European Parliament said on Thursday (17 September), calling for European Union economic sanctions to be imposed on him.
Putin throws $1.5 billion lifeline to Belarus leader
Russian President Vladimir Putin bestowed a $1.5 billion loan on Belarus in a gesture of support for its leader Alexander Lukashenko, who flew to entreat his patron for help after five weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation.
Russian intervention in Belarus is already a fact
The international community is reluctant to act and prefers to stick to empty condemnations of Vladimir Putin’s toxic acts. But Putin is ready to intervene in Belarus and the West cannot shy away, as it did in Ukraine. Only a 'big stick' policy can turn the tide, argues Hans van Baalen.
EU, Germany, Britain pressure Belarus on snatched opposition figure
The EU on Monday (7 September) led calls for Belarus to immediately release over 600 people arrested for protesting against a controversial election that extended strongman Alexander Lukashenko's 26 years in power.
Belarus arrests hundreds as opposition figure ‘kidnapped’
Belarus said on Monday (7 September) that police had detained more than 600 people at weekend protests and the opposition said a senior figure had been snatched off the streets, as authorities intensified efforts to end weeks of demonstrations.
Time is running out for Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko lost the August elections in Belarus, and new polls must be held immediately. Anything else should be treated no differently from a coup d'etat, writes Andrius Kubilius.
Canada, US, EU and Britain discussing sanctions against Belarus
Canada, the United States, the European Union and Britain are discussing possible sanctions against Belarus over its crackdown against protests following a disputed election, a Canadian source directly familiar with the matter said on Wednesday (2 September). If sanctions were...
Baltic states ban Lukashenko amid crackdown on opposition
The Baltic states on Monday (31 August) banned embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as he cracked down further on the opposition movement following another huge rally at the weekend.
Belarus opposition leader: Lukashenko showed weakness by seeking support from Moscow
The only Belarusian opposition leader who has not gone into exile, Maria Kolesnikova, is positive about the future of the pro-democracy protests in the eastern European country. EURACTIV's media partner EFE reports.
EU foreign ministers agree to move forward on Belarus sanctions
EU foreign ministers reached a political agreement in Berlin on Friday (28 August) on punitive measures against high-ranking supporters of Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko to pressure him into holding new elections.
In Berlin, EU credibility to be determined by fine line between Belarus and Turkey
EU foreign ministers meeting in Berlin are struggling to agree on the bloc's planned sanctions against Belarus and at the same time come up with an adequate response to Turkey over the escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Putin vows military support for Belarus’ Lukashenko
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed military support for embattled Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday (27 August), while urging a peaceful resolution to unrest and demonstrations that erupted after a disputed election. EU ambassadors in the capital Minsk on Thursday...
Russia warns US, EU against Belarus sanctions, interference
Russia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday (25 August) it had warned the United States and European Union against imposing sanctions on its ally Belarus and interfering in its internal affairs.
Borrell: ‘Maduro and Lukashenko are in exactly the same situation’
The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell warned Sunday (23 August) that Belarus should not be allowed to become a "second Ukraine" and said it was necessary to deal with President Alexander Lukashenko.
Tens of thousands in Lithuania form human chain for Belarus
Tens of thousands of Lithuanians linked arms on Sunday (23 August) in solidarity with the people of neighbouring Belarus who have been holding mass protests against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko since a disputed presidential election two weeks ago.
Belarus: The uprising has begun and is not going to stop soon
The protesters in Belarus are pawns in a geopolitical tectonic battle between East and West, although they don’t realise it, write Noé Morin and Bryan Bille.
Belarus opens criminal case into effort to ‘seize power’
Belarus opened a criminal investigation into attempts by the opposition to "seize power" on Thursday (20 August) as strongman Alexander Lukashenko moved to assert his authority after days of protests over a disputed election.
Putin’s unexpected dilemma: What to do with Lukashenko?
The eruption of anti-government protests in Belarus has presented an unexpected dilemma for President Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin strongman cautiously weighing his options at a sensitive moment for Russia.
While EU leaders discuss Belarus, Lukashenko orders police to put down protests
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered his police on Wednesday (19 August) to put down protests in the capital Minsk, signalling an escalation after a week and a half of mass demonstrations against his rule.
Belarus opposition urges EU to reject vote as leaders hold online summit
The exiled head of Belarus's opposition urged European leaders to reject President Alexander Lukashenko's "fraudulent" re-election on Wednesday (19 August) as the EU held an emergency summit on the country's political crisis.