About: authoritarian regime
EU rights watchdog warns of pitfalls in use of AI
The European Union's rights watchdog has warned of the risks of using artificial intelligence in predictive policing, medical diagnoses and targeted advertising as the bloc mulls rules next year to address the challenges posed by the technology.
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.
Canada, Britain give first media freedom award to Belarus journalists
The first ever Media Freedom Award, bestowed by the governments of Britain and Canada, was given Monday (16 November) to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, the foreign ministries of the two countries said.
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.
War crimes feared in Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict
Fighting between Ethiopian government forces and rebellious northern leaders could spiral out of control and war crimes may have been committed, the United Nations said on Friday (13 November), as repercussions spread around the volatile Horn of Africa.
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.
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.
Thailand bans protests as challenge to establishment escalates
Thailand’s government banned protests and police arrested at least three protest leaders on Thursday (15 October) in the face of escalating demonstrations targeting King Maha Vajiralongkorn as well as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader.
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.
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.
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.
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.
EU says Belarus restrictions on foreign media ‘not acceptable’
The EU criticised “arbitrary restrictions” on foreign media after Belarusian authorities on Saturday (29 August) withdrew the accreditation of journalists working for several foreign news organisations, ahead of the latest demonstration challenging the results of the presidential election.
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.
Tens of thousands rally in Belarus against post-vote crackdown
Tens of thousands of Belarusians staged a wave of peaceful protests on Thursday (13 August) against President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election and an ensuing brutal police crackdown.
Belarus starts to release prisoners as EU weighs sanctions
Belarusian authorities on Thursday (13 August) began releasing some of the thousands of people detained in a crackdown by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko that has prompted the European Union to consider imposing sanctions.
EU says Belarus vote not free, threatens sanctions
The European Union declared Tuesday (11 August) that the Belarus presidential election that returned authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko to office had been "neither free nor fair".
Poland calls for extraordinary EU summit following tainted Belarus election
Poland on Monday (10 August) called for an emergency European Union summit on the situation in Belarus after clashes in the night in Minsk following a disputed presidential election.
Europe must not allow Lukashenko to continue his manipulations
The EU must shape at least two different policies towards Belarus - one for the regime that stole the elections and one for the civil society, writes Urmas Paet.
Belarus police crackdown on mass protests against strongman president after election
Belarus police fired water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades in a crackdown on protests that erupted on Sunday (9 August) as President Alexander Lukashenko was set to claim another election win in the face of the biggest challenge in years to his grip on power.
Rising star shakes up Belarus strongman’s re-election bid
Belarus holds presidential polls on Sunday (9 August) with a novice opposition candidate posing the greatest challenge in years to long-ruling strongman Alexander Lukashenko.