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Tag: Alyaksandr Lukashenka

An alliance of creepy uncles

In a letter to the Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Donald Trump wrote that he and his wife were “praying for your health and well-being, as well as for further progress in pursuing our common goals on behalf of the people of the United States and Belarus”. Equally charming towards Trump, on the day of the release of political prisoners Lukashenka said: “our main task is to stand by Trump and help him in his mission to establish peace. He stopped seven wars and conflicts, or six”.

December 7, 2025 - Kacper Wańczyk

A dictator’s attempt to enforce timelessness

Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s obsession with time suggests that it has become one of the regime’s main enemies. To counter it, the regime has been mobilizing considerable resources in an effort even if not so much to win the battle, but at least to delay the inevitable.

December 7, 2025 - Tatsiana Astrouskaya

The Belarusian democratic forces after the 2025 presidential election

The democratic opposition in Belarus experienced something of a rebirth during the presidential election five years ago. Today, following the most recent vote, activists remain determined to bring freedom to their country from the authorities in both Minsk and Moscow.

August 4, 2025 - Mark Temnycky

A calculated gesture? The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski and the future of the Belarusian democratic forces

The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski in June 2025 marks a pivotal moment in Belarusian political theater — not as a sign of liberalization, but as a calculated maneuver within Lukashenka’s enduring strategy of controlled concessions. The regime's selective clemency is an expression of geopolitical signaling, manipulation of opposition dynamics, and reinforcement of authoritarian resilience.

July 25, 2025 - Hanna Vasilevich

Belarus after the war: at a crossroads

A possible truce in Russia’s war against Ukraine, resulting in what could be a frozen conflict, looks to be the best scenario for Alyaksandr Lukashenka. On the one hand, Russia would not completely shift away from its military focus, keeping a large army near the front line and preparing for possible future operations. On the other hand, a truce could help open the door to a partial lifting of western sanctions, many of which were imposed alongside Russia.

In late 2024, the potential return of Donald Trump was perceived by the Belarusian authorities as a window of opportunity for political bargaining with the West in the shadow of the start of possible peace talks over the Russo-Ukrainian War. In order to be as prepared as possible, the Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka held his electoral campaign six months before the end of his 2020 presidential term, right on the verge of the inauguration of the new US president.

July 8, 2025 - Pavlo Rad

Same old: Lukashenka’s centrally planned economy is a burden for Belarus

Belarus is well known for its autocratic style of rule. This concept of governance has its roots in the Soviet system, which Minsk borrows heavily from in everyday administration. This approach interestingly extends to the country’s economy, which remains dominated by industry that is owned by the authoritarian state.

February 17, 2025 - Zuzanna Kalinowska

The 2025 Belarusian presidential elections

The upcoming presidential election in Belarus will help give an indication as to the strength of Lukashenka’s grip on the country. While it is clear who will come out on top in the rigged vote, a level of dissent could once again be expressed by an opposition brought to life by the last race five years ago.

January 17, 2025 - Mark Temnycky

What is happening in Belarusian education and academia four years after the presidential elections of August 2020?

Most participants of the 2020 protests have already graduated, but the pressure on Belarusian education has not ceased. With the authorities still focused on students, avoiding the institutionalized propaganda is becoming ever more difficult.

November 14, 2024 - Aliaksei Piatrenka

Belarus’s Day of National Unity: reinforcing regime narratives and alienating minorities

On September 17th, Belarus celebrated its fourth annual “Day of National Unity”, a public holiday established by Alyaksandr Lukashenka's decree in 2021. This date, marking the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939, continues to be a focal point for the regime's endeavours to revise history. Its anti-Polish rhetoric further strains relations with its western neighbour and alienates Belarus's Polish minority.

November 7, 2024 - Hanna Vasilevich

Russia turns to Belarus as Ukrainian offensive prevails

Moscow has increasingly pressured Minsk for help in its war against Ukraine. Belarus’s recent military exercises on its southern border have been met with continued fears over the country’s independence. It is clear that at the moment Minsk has no good options when it comes to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

October 9, 2024 - Mark Temnycky

The metamorphosis of Soviet dictatorships

In the past, authoritarian regimes such as the Soviet Union maintained power through the total control of information and propaganda. Today, the situation has changed significantly. Many of the new features of contemporary dictatorships have been imposed by the process of globalization and technological progress.

Throughout history, dictatorial rulers have been a consistent presence, evolving from tribal chieftains and monarchs to modern-day autocrats. Even in different settings, these leaders had one thing in common: pursuing and maintaining power by utilizing diverse tools to secure their dominance. In ancient times it was often sufficient for a ruler to claim divine endorsement, such as being the representative of a rain or fire god, and to eliminate any threat or expression of disobedience.

September 17, 2024 - Tatevik Hovhannisyan

Thirty years of Lukashenka

This year marks the thirty-year anniversary of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s rule. While the Belarusian leader has been able to consolidate his power in the country, recent responses to crackdowns on the opposition suggest an uncertain future for the dictator.

August 28, 2024 - Mark Temnycky

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