Section: Belarus Digest (Belarus)
Belarus Engages Ukraine, Moldova, Improves Ties with EU and US – Foreign Policy Digest
Vladimir Makei meets Mikheil Saakashvili in Odessa The summer holidays proved to be productive for the relations of Belarus with both “old” and “new” Europe. Foreign minister Vladimir Makei ended a continued pause in high-level contacts with Belarus’ southern neighbour by …read more Source: Belarus...
Lukashenka’s 2015 Election Strategy
On 4 August, Belarusian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka met with journalists of non-government media to discuss a wide range of topics. In particular he focused on the preelection campaign and the conflict in Ukraine, stressing that Russia will not go to war with Belarus and no Russian planes operate on Belarusian territory. This paper examines...
What Stands behind Another “Liberalisation” in Belarus?
Collecting signatures in the centre of Minsk. Site: nn.by Just as before the 2010 presidential elections the Belarusian authorities show certain signs of liberalisation. They do not use aggressive hostile propaganda on TV and have allowed the opposition to campaign without interference. In addition, Alexander Lukashenka last week held a...
Belarus and the Ukraine Conflict: More Losses Than Gains?
Minsk staged military shows in border regions. Image: Virtual Brest Although the Belarusian authorities have managed to promote their country in a favourable light by hosting the high-level talks on Ukraine, they seriously worry about the direct spill-over of the Ukrainian conflict. Belarus has already suffered economic losses from the Donbass...
What Makes the 2015 Belarus Presidential Campaign So Different?
Lukashenka and his son at the polling station Each and every election in Belarus follows a straightforward pattern: limit the rights of the opposition, control the vote-counting process and, later, announce the predetermined winner. However, the 2015 campaign will differ from previous ones in a number of ways. The war in Ukraine has altered...
Migrants from Eastern Ukraine Put Pressure on Belarus
Ukrainian migrants in Belarus, photo: svaboda.org Belarus has never had anything resembling the number of migrants it has recently experienced. Over the past 12 months the Belarusian population, thanks to the 100,000 refugees from the Donbas, has increased by 1%. Indeed, Belarus has more Ukrainian migrants per capita than any other country....
Strengthening Border with Ukraine, Chinese Paratroopers – Belarus Security Digest
Chinese officials on a visit to Belarus. Image: mil.by The situation in Ukraine continues to be a major concern for the Belarusian authorities, while the prospects of Russia’s air base is still uncertain as Minsk maintains its low-profile cooperation with NATO. Belarus is set to receive additional second-hand Russian S-300 missile systems...
Strengthening the Ukraine Border, Chinese Paratroopers – Belarus Security Digest
Chinese officials on a visit to Belarus. Image: mil.by Situation in Ukraine remains the major concern for Belarusian government. The prospects for Russia’s airbase is still uncertain as Minsk maintains low-profile cooperation with NATO. Belarus gets additional second-hand Russian S-300 but has no chances to get newer systems in the...
Strengthening the Ukraine Border, Chinese Paratroopers, No Russian Airbase – Belarus Security Digest
A delegation of the PLA General Political Department on a visit to Belarus. Image: mil.by Situation in Ukraine remains the major concern for Belarusian government. The prospects for Russia’s airbase is still uncertain as Minsk maintains low-profile cooperation with NATO. Belarus gets additional second-hand Russian S-300 but has no chances...
Failure of Minsk-2 and the Belarusian Presidential Election
Belarusian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s role as a mediator in the conflict in Ukraine has received high praise from European officials and partially ended the isolation of the republic. Recently the government has taken part in several high-level events, most notably the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on 21-22 May. But the...
