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Tag: political prisoners

From captivity to freedom

An interview with the Belarusian anarchist activist Mikola Dziadok. Interviewers: Claudia Bettiol and Francesco Brusa.

October 21, 2025 - Claudia Bettiol Francesco Brusa Mikola Dziadok

Europe’s narrowing menu on policy towards Belarus

Since even before 2020, EU sanctions against Belarus have failed to achieve their core goals, neither crippling the economy nor forcing a change in Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s behaviour. Instead, the EU strategy has arguably backfired – tightening authoritarian control, worsening human rights conditions, and even bolstering domestic support for the regime.

September 17, 2025 - Vitali Matyshau

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

Belarus’s political prisoner dilemma

The recent prisoner swap with Russia in early August marked the largest East-West exchange since the Cold War. Despite this, little has been said about the absence of Belarus in these agreements. A renewed effort is now needed to help the many political prisoners still held by Minsk.

August 23, 2024 - Vitali Matyshau

“Every Ukrainian is a hero”

Interview with Oleksandr Butkevych, the father of Maksym who collected the National Human Rights Award in the name of his son whose whereabouts are unknown. Interviewers: Claudia Bettiol and Francesco Brusa.

January 19, 2024 - Claudia Bettiol Francesco Brusa Oleksandr Butkevych

Cela #18

A new publication sheds new light on the horrible experiences of Belarusian women incarcerated following the 2020 protests.

September 11, 2023 - Katarzyna Taczyńska Wojciech Tworek

Medical workers – the new social activists of Belarus?

The pandemic and political crisis has added new dimensions to the health care profession in Belarus.

August 5, 2021 - Aleksandra Oczkowicz

Ryanair flight hijacking: part of a bigger strategy?

The recent emboldened moves made by Lukashenka seem to be pushing Belarus even closer into Russia's embrace. Faced with behaviours difficult to explain one must ask - who gains?

June 9, 2021 - German Carboni

Prisoner’s Voice – Oleh Sentsov

This interview was conducted as part of the #PrisonersVoice project of Internews Ukraine. The project aims at drawing global attention to Ukrainian political prisoners who were or are still being kept in Russian prisons. Download the free #PrisonersVoice application for your mobile or tablet on AppStore or GooglePlay to learn more.

November 16, 2020 - Oleg Sentsov Tetiana Matychak

Prisoner’s voice – Oleksandr Kolchenko

This interview was conducted as part of the #PrisonersVoice project of Internews Ukraine. The project aims at drawing global attention to Ukrainian political prisoners who were or are still being kept in Russian prisons. Download the free #PrisonersVoice application for your mobile or tablet on AppStore or GooglePlay to learn more.

November 16, 2020 - Oleksandr Kolchenko Tetiana Matychak

“Freedom for Tofiq Yaqublu”. The price of political opposition

Tofiq Yaqublu, the Azerbaijani opposition leader and prisoner of conscience, started a hunger strike demanding the reversal of his recent prison sentence. This is a desperate cry for justice in a country where everything depends on the whim of the president.

September 16, 2020 - Anna Zamejc

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