About: Alexander Lukashenko
EU prepares new round of Belarus sanctions from June
The European Union is readying a fourth round of sanctions against senior Belarus officials in response to last year's contested presidential election and could target as many as 50 people from June, four diplomats said.
Putin warns the West not to cross the red line in relation to Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual State of the Union address on Wednesday (21 April), presenting a narrative according to which the West was playing a dangerous and hostile game against his country, which had no other choice but to defend itself.
Tsikhanouskaya: Repressions are escalating, EU should be ‘braver’ in its sanction policy
Actions of the international community, including European sanctions against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, have to be ‘faster and braver‘ to support Belarusian civil society in its struggle, Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told EURACTIV. “The protest mood hasn’t been...
Belarus journalists struggle as crackdown on media intensifies
The case of two female Belarussian journalists jailed in February for reporting about protests in Minsk once again highlighted the severity of the government's crackdown on news media in the former Soviet republic.
Belarus court sentences two journalists to two years in prison
A court in Belarus on Thursday (18 February) sentenced two journalists to two years in prison on charges of fomenting protests against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Lukashenko tells loyalists he defeated foreign ‘blitzkrieg’
Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday (11 February) declared victory over what he said was foreign attempts to overthrow his government and showed no signs of heeding the embattled opposition's calls for him to resign.
Lukashenko stages Belarusian ‘People’s Assembly’ as opposition cries foul
Veteran President Alexander Lukashenko launched a Belarusian “People’s Assembly” on Thursday (11 February), inviting 2,700 people to discuss political reform in what opponents dismissed as a sham exercise to help him to cling to power.
EU Parliament president under fire for ‘not supporting’ democracy in Belarus
A leading Member of the European Parliament is organising a debate on Wednesday (10 February) intended to overturn a decision by the assembly's President David Sassoli not to open an office in Brussels representing the Belarus opposition, presumably under the advice of EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.
Belarus stripped of ice hockey world championship over unrest, Covid
Belarus was on Monday (18 January) stripped of its role as co-host of the 2021 ice hockey world championship over "growing safety and security concerns related to both the rising political unrest and Covid-19".
New evidence in Ukraine journalist’s murder
Police in Ukraine have received new evidence that may help identify those who ordered the murder of award-winning investigative journalist Pavel Sheremet in 2016.
Belarusian spa in Lithuania hit by EU sanctions
A Belarusian state-owned spa operating in Lithuania has been hit by European Union sanctions against Minsk over its brutal crackdown on opposition protesters, officials said Monday (28 December). Ilya Yepifanau, the head physician at the Belorus spa, told AFP that...
Belarus protesters gather ‘despite repressions, violence and cold’
Protesters in Belarus weathered icy conditions Sunday (13 December), hitting the streets to demand the resignation of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko who is facing down months of historic protests against his rule.
Belarus protesters take to the streets with new tactic
Opposition protesters in Belarus took to the streets of the capital Minsk on Sunday (29 November) in the latest of three months of demonstrations against the re-election of strongman president Alexander Lukashenko.
Lukashenko: With the new Consitution, I will no longer work with you as President
The Belarusian strongman Aleksander Lukashenko hinted on Friday (27 (November) he would step down once the new constitution is adopted. He said he supports a new Constitution, "not because some kind of democracy is needed" but because giving it to "an unknown president" in its current form would cause trouble, state news agency BelTa reported.
EP adopts tough resolution on Belarus, Russia accuses West of meddling
Russia's foreign minister on Thursday (26 November) accused the West of interfering in Belarus as he met strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko who has faced months of protests over his disputed re-election.
How young people in Belarus have become the drivers of the protests
For more than 100 days, Belarusian pro-democracy protesters have been rallying in the streets against President Alexander Lukashenko, following rigged national elections and violence against peaceful demonstrators. While some older people, particularly women, have also taken to the streets, young people have been at the forefront of the protests.
Thousands rally in Belarus after opposition protester’s death
Thousands of demonstrators turned out in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Friday (13 November) to mourn the death of a protester who was pronounced dead the day after police arrested him.
More than 800 held in Belarus as opposition reaches out to Biden
Police in Belarus on Sunday (8 November) detained more than 800 people during the latest in weeks of unprecedented demonstrations against strongman Alexander Lukashenko, as the opposition reached out to US President-elect Joe Biden.
EU launches sanctions against Belarus leader Lukashenko
The EU on Wednesday (4 November) launched a procedure to sanction Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, his son Viktor and 13 others held responsible for a post-election crackdown in the former Soviet state, diplomatic sources in Brussels said.
Tens of thousands protest in Belarus, defying threats, warning shots
Riot police fired warning shots into the air, used stun grenades and made arrests to deter tens of thousands of Belarusians who marched through Minsk on Sunday (1 November) to demand veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko leave power.
Biden vows to back Belarus opposition in removing Lukashenko
US presidential hopeful Joe Biden voiced support Tuesday (27 October) for the Belarus opposition in its general strike against President Alexander Lukashenko, saying the strongman was illegitimate.
Belarus opposition wins European Parliament’s human rights award
The European Parliament awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for human rights on Thursday (22 October) to the democratic opposition movement in Belarus led by the exiled Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who stood up to strongman Alexander Lukashenko. “They have stood and still...
Tens of thousands march in Belarus despite police threat to open fire
Belarusian police on Sunday (18 October) detained more than 200 people as tens of thousands marched against strongman Alexander Lukashenko in defiance of police threats to open fire after weeks of demonstrations.