About: Alexander Lukashenko
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.
Belarus allows police to use combat weapons as protests persist
Belarus police will now be permitted to use combat weapons in the streets if needed, the Interior Ministry said, as security forces again clashed with protesters who want President Alexander Lukashenko to quit after a contested 9 August election.
EU agrees to sanction Lukashenko, impose Russia sanctions over Navalny poisoning
EU foreign ministers on Monday (12 October) agreed to impose sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and move forward with a sanctions framework against the culprits involved in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Police in Belarus crack down on protesters, detain dozens
Security forces in Belarus detained dozens of protesters on Sunday (11 October) and used force, including water cannon and batons, to break up crowds demanding a new presidential election, TV footage showed.
EU leaders unblock Belarus sanctions, issue ‘carrot and stick’ warning to Turkey
After weeks of bickering, EU leaders broke a longstanding deadlock to impose sanctions against members of the Belarus regime on Friday night (2 October) and fired a warning at Turkey over its gas drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean.
EU leaders meet to break stalemate over Belarus and Turkey
EU leaders meet physically for an extraordinary summit in Brussels on Thursday (1 October) in an attempt to break the deadlock over imposing sanctions on Belarus and resolving a standoff with Turkey, both crucial for the EU's credibility on the international scene.
UK, Canada impose sanctions on Lukashenko
Britain and Canada on Tuesday (29 September) slapped sanctions on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, his son and senior figures in the regime for a string of alleged human rights violations.
Macron: ‘It is clear Lukashenko has to go’
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday (27 September) that Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko must step down, after the EU refused to recognise him as the legitimate president of the ex-Soviet country.
Make or break for the ‘pro-Belarusian revolution’
In these difficult times for liberal democracy, the EU has to ensure its credibility more decisively than ever, writes Darya Mustafayeva.
EU urged to sanction Lukashenko as struggle with Cyprus continues
Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Monday (21 September) urged the EU to show courage and impose sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko's government, as the bloc continues to face internal squabbles about sanctions ahead of a crucial foreign policy summit later this week.
Tens of thousands defy police crackdown to protest in Belarus
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched in the Belarusian capital of Minsk Sunday (20 September), defying a heavy security presence that included water cannon and armoured vehicles.
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.