INSIDER
Belarus sets a Jan. 26 election that's almost certain to extend its authoritarian leader's rule
Read full article: Belarus sets a Jan. 26 election that's almost certain to extend its authoritarian leader's ruleLawmakers in Belarus set the next presidential election for Jan. 26, a vote almost certain to extend the three-decade rule of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
An independent journalist arrested on treason charges in Belarus
Read full article: An independent journalist arrested on treason charges in BelarusAn independent journalist in Belarus has been arrested on treason charges, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on news media by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenkoās government.
Imprisoned Belarus activist who was a symbol of defiance hasn't been heard from for months
Read full article: Imprisoned Belarus activist who was a symbol of defiance hasn't been heard from for monthsThe last time any of Maria Kolesnikovaās family had contact with the imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist was more than 18 months ago.
Belarusian-American has his prison sentence extended amid continuous crackdown on dissent in Belarus
Read full article: Belarusian-American has his prison sentence extended amid continuous crackdown on dissent in BelarusA Belarusian-American has had his prison term extended to a total of 13 1/2 years in the latest move in a multi-pronged crackdown on dissent by Belarusā authoritarian government.
Belarus opposition urges immediate release of over 200 political prisoners in dire state
Read full article: Belarus opposition urges immediate release of over 200 political prisoners in dire stateBelarusian opposition leader in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Thursday said 224 political prisoners in Belarus must be urgently released.
In Belarus, the native language is vanishing as Russian takes prominence
Read full article: In Belarus, the native language is vanishing as Russian takes prominenceBelarusians are experiencing a new wave of Russification as Moscow expands its economic, political and cultural dominance to overtake the identity of its neighbor.
Belarusians fleeing repression at home say they face new threats and intimidation abroad
Read full article: Belarusians fleeing repression at home say they face new threats and intimidation abroadMore than a half-million Belarusians have fled their country since 2020 as the authoritarian government cracked down its critics.
Relatives of Belarus' political prisoners complain that East-West swap didn't free their loved ones
Read full article: Relatives of Belarus' political prisoners complain that East-West swap didn't free their loved onesA wave of disappointment swept over opposition activists in Belarus last week as the biggest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War unfolded and they learned it included none of the Belarusian political detainees whoāve been locked up for years by its authoritarian leader.
Belarus' authoritarian president pardons German man sentenced to death on terrorism charges
Read full article: Belarus' authoritarian president pardons German man sentenced to death on terrorism chargesBelarusā authoritarian leader has granted pardon to a German citizen who has been sentenced to death on terrorism charges.
Key events in Alexander Lukashenko's 30 years as the iron-fisted leader of Belarus
Read full article: Key events in Alexander Lukashenko's 30 years as the iron-fisted leader of BelarusHard-line President Alexander Lukashenko has led Belarus for 30 years and intends to seek yet another term in office.
Leader of Belarus marks 30 years in power after crushing all dissent and cozying up to Moscow
Read full article: Leader of Belarus marks 30 years in power after crushing all dissent and cozying up to MoscowFor three decades, European leaders have come and gone, but Alexander Lukashenko remains in absolute control of Belarus.
Belarusian authorities are depriving Nobel Peace Prize laureate of medicine in jail, his wife says
Read full article: Belarusian authorities are depriving Nobel Peace Prize laureate of medicine in jail, his wife saysThe wife of an imprisoned Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize laureate says that the Belarusian authorities are depriving her husband of medicine.
Leaders of Russia and China meet at a Central Asian summit in a show of deepening cooperation
Read full article: Leaders of Russia and China meet at a Central Asian summit in a show of deepening cooperationRussian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met for the second time in as many months as they visit Kazakhstan for a session of an international group founded to counter Western alliances.
Why Poland says Russia and Belarus are weaponizing migration to benefit Europeās far-right
Read full article: Why Poland says Russia and Belarus are weaponizing migration to benefit Europeās far-rightPoland says neighboring Belarus and its main supporter and ally Russia are behind a recent surge in migrants from Belarus toward the European Union.
Hungary's foreign minister visits Belarus despite EU sanctions, talks about expanding ties
Read full article: Hungary's foreign minister visits Belarus despite EU sanctions, talks about expanding tiesHungaryās top diplomat has visited Belarus for talks on expanding ties despite the European Unionās sanctions against the country.
Hackers claim to have infiltrated Belarus' main security service
Read full article: Hackers claim to have infiltrated Belarus' main security serviceA Belarusian hacker activist group claims to have infiltrated the network of the countryās main security agency and obtained access to personal files of over 8,600 staffers of the KGB, the security service that still goes under its Soviet name.
Putin mocks planned Ukraine conference and says Russia won't accept any enforced peace plans
Read full article: Putin mocks planned Ukraine conference and says Russia won't accept any enforced peace plansRussiaās President Vladimir Putin has mocked a planned round of Ukraine peace talks in Switzerland, warning that Moscow will not accept any enforced agreements ignoring its interests.
An imprisoned journalist in Belarus designated a political prisoner by a leading rights group
Read full article: An imprisoned journalist in Belarus designated a political prisoner by a leading rights groupA prominent journalist in Belarus has been designated a political prisoner by the countryās leading human rights group.
Thousands of Belarusians convicted on politically-driven charges amid sweeping crackdown on dissent
Read full article: Thousands of Belarusians convicted on politically-driven charges amid sweeping crackdown on dissentThousands of Belarusians have been convicted on politically-driven charges over the last three years as part of the authorities' relentless crackdown on dissent.
Belarusians vote in a tightly controlled election as the opposition calls for its boycott
Read full article: Belarusians vote in a tightly controlled election as the opposition calls for its boycottTightly controlled parliamentary and local elections in Belarus are set to cement the hard-line rule of the countryās authoritarian leader, despite a prominent opposition leaderās call for a boycott.
Belarus cracks down on clergy who supported protests of its authoritarian leader
Read full article: Belarus cracks down on clergy who supported protests of its authoritarian leaderDozens of clergy in Belarus ā Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant ā have been jailed, silenced or forced into exile for protesting the 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term.
The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for a year
Read full article: The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for a yearThe family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova says it hasn't received a letter from her for a year.
Putin and Lukashenko meet in St Petersburg to discuss ways to expand the Russia-Belarus alliance
Read full article: Putin and Lukashenko meet in St Petersburg to discuss ways to expand the Russia-Belarus allianceThe leaders of Russia and Belarus have discussed ways to further expand their alliance that has seen the deployment of some of Russiaās nuclear weapons on the territory of its neighbor.
Belarus political prisoner dies after authorities fail to provide him with medical care, group says
Read full article: Belarus political prisoner dies after authorities fail to provide him with medical care, group saysA human rights group says that a political prisoner has died in prison in Belarus after authorities failed to provide him with proper medical care.
Belarus' authoritarian leader tightens control over the country's religious groups
Read full article: Belarus' authoritarian leader tightens control over the country's religious groupsBelarus President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a law into effect that significantly tightens control over various religious denominations and organizations.
Belarus leader says Russian nuclear weapons shipments are completed, raising concern in the region
Read full article: Belarus leader says Russian nuclear weapons shipments are completed, raising concern in the regionThe president of Belarus says Russia has completed its shipments of short-range, tactical nuclear weapons to his country, an initiative that has raised strong concerns in neighboring Poland and elsewhere in the region.
Belarus political prisoners face abuse, no medical care and isolation, former inmate says
Read full article: Belarus political prisoners face abuse, no medical care and isolation, former inmate saysA human rights activist imprisoned for three years in Belarus accused authorities of holding political prisoners in conditions amounting to ātorture.ā.
More than 2,400 Ukrainian children taken to Belarus, a Yale study finds
Read full article: More than 2,400 Ukrainian children taken to Belarus, a Yale study findsMore than 2,400 Ukrainian children aged 6-17 have been taken to Belarus from four regions of Ukraine that are partially occupied by Russian forces, a study by Yale University has found.
Activist hands ICC evidence he says implicates Belarus president in transfer of Ukrainian children
Read full article: Activist hands ICC evidence he says implicates Belarus president in transfer of Ukrainian childrenAn exiled Belarus activist has presented a second dossier of evidence to the International Criminal Court that he says proves the personal involvement of President Alexander Lukashenko in the illegal transfer of children to Belarus from Russian-occupied towns in Ukraine.
Belarusians who fled repression face new hurdles as they try to rebuild their lives abroad
Read full article: Belarusians who fled repression face new hurdles as they try to rebuild their lives abroadHundreds of thousands of Belarusians who fled repression in their homeland face the prospect of having invalid documents after authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree halting passport renewals abroad.
Global Red Cross urges ouster of Belarus chapter chief who boasted of bringing in Ukrainian children
Read full article: Global Red Cross urges ouster of Belarus chapter chief who boasted of bringing in Ukrainian childrenThe international Red Cross is calling for the ouster of the head of the Belarus Red Cross, who stirred international outrage for boasting that it was actively ferrying Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus.
Belarus' top diplomat says he can't imagine his nation entering the war in Ukraine alongside Russia
Read full article: Belarus' top diplomat says he can't imagine his nation entering the war in Ukraine alongside RussiaThe foreign minister of Belarus says he can't envision a situation where his country would enter the war in Ukraine alongside Russian forces.
Putin meets the leader of Belarus, who suggests joining Russia's move to boost ties with North Korea
Read full article: Putin meets the leader of Belarus, who suggests joining Russia's move to boost ties with North KoreaRussian President Vladimir Putin has hosted a meeting with his Belarusian ally, who referred to this weekās summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and suggested that Minsk could join Moscowās efforts to revive an old alliance with Pyongyang.
Belarus bans citizens from renewing passports abroad, spreading fear among those who fled repression
Read full article: Belarus bans citizens from renewing passports abroad, spreading fear among those who fled repressionBelarusā authoritarian president banned citizens from renewing their passports while staying abroad, which could force those who fled the country amid growing repression to return to maintain their travel documents.
Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin challenged the Kremlin in a brief mutiny
Read full article: Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin challenged the Kremlin in a brief mutinyYevgeny Prigozhin made his name as the profane and brutal mercenary boss who mounted an armed rebellion that was the most severe and shocking challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putinās rule.
Poland's leader says Russia's moving tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, shifting regional security
Read full article: Poland's leader says Russia's moving tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, shifting regional securityPolandās President Andrzej Duda says that Russia already is in the process of shifting some short-range nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus.
Why tensions have been growing along NATOās eastern border with Belarus
Read full article: Why tensions have been growing along NATOās eastern border with BelarusPoland is deploying thousands of troops to its border with pro-Russian Belarus, calling it a deterrent move as tensions between the neighbors ratchet up.
Nervous NATO nations are beefing up security due to Wagner fighters across their borders in Belarus
Read full article: Nervous NATO nations are beefing up security due to Wagner fighters across their borders in BelarusNATO allies located along the allianceās eastern front are growing increasingly worried about the presence of Russia-linked Wagner group mercenaries in Belarus.
Bluffing or not, Putinās declared deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus raises tensions
Read full article: Bluffing or not, Putinās declared deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus raises tensionsSometime this summer, if President Vladimir Putin can be believed, Russia moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus, closer to Ukraine and onto the doorstep of NATOās members in Central and Eastern Europe.
Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the opposition
Read full article: Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the oppositionA prominent journalist in Belarus has been sentenced to six years in prison, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists.
Video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin for first time since short-lived mutiny
Read full article: Video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin for first time since short-lived mutinyA new video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin for the first time since he led a short-lived rebellion last month, and he is seen telling his troops they will spend time in Belarus training its military before deploying to Africa.
Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissent
Read full article: Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissentAuthorities in Belarus have arrested a prominent journalist working with the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the latest step in a yearslong crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists.
Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutiny
Read full article: Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutinyMore mercenaries from Russiaās Wagner military contractor have rolled into Belarus, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last monthās short-lived mutiny.
Wagner mercenaries entering Belarus as Minsk announces 'road map' for joint military drills
Read full article: Wagner mercenaries entering Belarus as Minsk announces 'road map' for joint military drillsAn independent monitoring group says a large convoy carrying fighters from the Wagner private army has been spotted entering Belarus from Russia.
Belarus shows off a military camp to host Russia's Wagner mercenaries after a failed mutiny
Read full article: Belarus shows off a military camp to host Russia's Wagner mercenaries after a failed mutinyThe Belarusian military has shown off a field camp it has offered to Russiaās Wagner military contractor if it relocates to Belarus under a deal that ended its mutiny.
Armed rebellion by Wagner chief Prigozhin underscores erosion of Russian legal system
Read full article: Armed rebellion by Wagner chief Prigozhin underscores erosion of Russian legal systemRussiaās rebellious mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin walked free from prosecution for his June 24 armed mutiny, and itās still unclear if anyone will face any charges in the brief uprising against the military or for the deaths of the soldiers killed in it.
Belarus says Wagner chief who staged mutiny is in Russia, raising questions about Kremlin's strategy
Read full article: Belarus says Wagner chief who staged mutiny is in Russia, raising questions about Kremlin's strategyThe president of Belarus says the mercenary leader who led a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin is in Russia and his troops are in their field camps.
Satellite photos, reports suggest Belarus building army camp for Wagner fighters
Read full article: Satellite photos, reports suggest Belarus building army camp for Wagner fightersSatellite images analyzed by the Associated Press on Saturday showed what appeared to be a newly built military-style camp in Belarus, with statements from a Belarusian guerrilla group and officials suggesting that it may be used to house fighters from the Wagner mercenary group.
A week after an armed rebellion rattled Russia, key details about it are still shrouded in mystery
Read full article: A week after an armed rebellion rattled Russia, key details about it are still shrouded in mysteryA week after the mutiny raised the most daunting challenge to President Vladimir Putinās rule in over two decades, key details about the uprising remain shrouded in mystery.
Belarus leader welcomes Wagner forces but others in the country see them as a threat
Read full article: Belarus leader welcomes Wagner forces but others in the country see them as a threatAs life in Russia returns to normal after an armed rebellion by a mercenary group, tensions are rising in and around its neighbor Belarus, where the exiled leader of the force and some of its fighters are settling in.
Recapping the revolt in Russia, through the words of 4 presidents and a mutinous warlord
Read full article: Recapping the revolt in Russia, through the words of 4 presidents and a mutinous warlordThe dramatic rebellion by a mercenary warlord in Russia that challenged President Vladimir Putin was punctuated by dramatic language of the key protagonists ā and some long silences.
Belarusian leader approved forced transfers of Ukrainian children, says opposition figure
Read full article: Belarusian leader approved forced transfers of Ukrainian children, says opposition figureA Belarusian opposition figure says that he has provided the International Criminal Court with materials that allegedly detail President Alexander Lukashenko's involvement in the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus.
Belarus deal to take in leader of Russian rebellion puts him in an even more repressive nation
Read full article: Belarus deal to take in leader of Russian rebellion puts him in an even more repressive nationRussian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was notorious for unbridled and profane challenges to authority even before the attempted rebellion that he mounted Saturday.
Belarus crackdown targets not just political activists but also their lawyers
Read full article: Belarus crackdown targets not just political activists but also their lawyersFor nearly three years, a harsh crackdown on dissent in Belarus by its authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has filled the countryās penal colonies with thousands of political prisoners, with new arrests reported daily.
NATO sees no change in Russia's nuclear posture despite Belarus leader's claims
Read full article: NATO sees no change in Russia's nuclear posture despite Belarus leader's claimsNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the military organization has seen no evidence that Russia has changed its nuclear posture.
Leader of Belarus says he wouldn't hesitate to use Russian nuclear weapons to repel aggression
Read full article: Leader of Belarus says he wouldn't hesitate to use Russian nuclear weapons to repel aggressionBelarus' authoritarian leader says his country has already received some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons, emphasizing that he wouldn't hesitate to order their use in the event of an aggression against his country.
Putin says Russian tactical nuclear weapons to be deployed to Belarus next month
Read full article: Putin says Russian tactical nuclear weapons to be deployed to Belarus next monthRussian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow will deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus next month, a move that the Belarusian opposition described as an attempt to blackmail the West.
Belarus upholds 8-year prison sentence for journalist of top Polish newspaper
Read full article: Belarus upholds 8-year prison sentence for journalist of top Polish newspaperBelarusā Supreme Court on Friday upheld an eight-year prison sentence that was handed to a journalist and prominent member of the countryās sizable Polish minority.
Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus
Read full article: Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in BelarusRussia and Belarus signed a deal formalizing the deployment of Moscowās tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally, although control of the weapons remains in the Kremlin.
Nobel peace laureate transferred to brutal prison in Belarus, his wife says
Read full article: Nobel peace laureate transferred to brutal prison in Belarus, his wife saysThe wife of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski says he's been transferred to a notoriously brutal prison in Belarus and hasnāt been heard from in a month.
Photos, video of Belarus leader emerge after days of absences that sparked health rumors
Read full article: Photos, video of Belarus leader emerge after days of absences that sparked health rumorsFor nearly a week, the whereabouts of Belarusā authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko have been a mystery.
Belarusians wary of being drawn into war with Ukraine
Read full article: Belarusians wary of being drawn into war with UkraineBelarus President Alexander Lukashenko has welcomed thousands of Russian troops to his country, allowed the Kremlin to use it to launch the invasion of Ukraine last year, and offered to station some of Moscowās tactical nuclear weapons there.
European lawmakers urge for Olympics ban on Russia, Belarus
Read full article: European lawmakers urge for Olympics ban on Russia, BelarusEuropean lawmakers have urged the International Olympic Committee to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Paris Games because of the war in Ukraine.
Lithuania seeks compensation from Belarus for migrant crisis
Read full article: Lithuania seeks compensation from Belarus for migrant crisisLithuania is seeking up to 120 million euros in compensation from Belarus, accusing its eastern neighbor of orchestrating the illegal immigration of thousands of people.
Belarus sentences exiled opposition leader to 15 years
Read full article: Belarus sentences exiled opposition leader to 15 yearsA court in Belarus has sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in prison after a trial in absentia on charges including conspiring to overthrow the government.
Belarus coach who removed sprinter from Olympics charged
Read full article: Belarus coach who removed sprinter from Olympics chargedA Belarusian track coach who tried to force a sprinter to return home from the Tokyo Olympics after she was critical of the team has been charged with breaching the sportās integrity standards.
Belarus' opposition leader denounces her trial as farce
Read full article: Belarus' opposition leader denounces her trial as farceA trial in absentia has opened for Belarusā top opposition leader who denounced the proceedings as a farce and urged the West to bolster support for the countryās beleaguered opposition.
Photo with Clinton used against jailed Belarus politician
Read full article: Photo with Clinton used against jailed Belarus politicianBelarusian investigators are using a photo of an opposition politician shaking hands with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as evidence in a criminal case tied to the mass protests after Belarusā disputed 2020 presidential election.
Putin in Belarus, eyeing next steps in Ukraine war
Read full article: Putin in Belarus, eyeing next steps in Ukraine warRussian President Vladimir Putin made a rare trip to close ally Belarus as his forces pursue their campaign to bombard Ukraine with missiles and drones amid a broad battlefield stalemate almost 10 months into the war.
Nobel Peace Prize winners blast Putin's invasion of Ukraine
Read full article: Nobel Peace Prize winners blast Putin's invasion of UkraineThe winners of this yearās Nobel Peace Prize from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have shared their visions of a fairer world during an award ceremony and denounced Russian President Vladimir Putinās war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Nobel Prize winner says Putin must face tribunal
Read full article: Ukrainian Nobel Prize winner says Putin must face tribunalA representative of one of the organizations sharing this yearās Nobel Peace Prize says Russian President Vladimir Putin should face an international tribunal for the fighting in Ukraine.
Jailed Nobel laureate Bialiatski barred from sending speech
Read full article: Jailed Nobel laureate Bialiatski barred from sending speechImprisoned Belarusian human rights campaigner Ales Bialiatski, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with rights groups in Russia and Ukraine, hasnāt been allowed by Belarus authorities to hand over his speech for the award ceremony.
Belarus' top diplomat buried as his death raises suspicions
Read full article: Belarus' top diplomat buried as his death raises suspicionsBelarus has given a state funeral to its foreign minister who died suddenly at age 64, triggering speculation about possible foul play in his death after he leaned toward Western countries.
Latvia calls watchdog's migrant mistreatment claims 'absurd'
Read full article: Latvia calls watchdog's migrant mistreatment claims 'absurd'Latvia has rejected as āabsurd" claims by Amnesty International that it is violently mistreating migrants attempting to enter the European Union member country through Belarus.
Singer driven from Belarus for speaking out tries to rebuild
Read full article: Singer driven from Belarus for speaking out tries to rebuildA Belarusian opera singer who almost lost it all for publicly opposing his nation's authoritarian leader is rebuilding his life in the U.S. Ilya Silchukou lives in suburban Boston with his wife and three children and teaches music to middle school students while he tries to revive his singing career.
Bialiatski joins small group of jailed Nobel Peace laureates
Read full article: Bialiatski joins small group of jailed Nobel Peace laureatesBelarussian Ales Bialiatski, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with human rights groups in Russia and Ukraine, is the fourth person to receive the award while in prison or detention.