Belarus in Focus Information Office

Security issues

- The situation has deteriorated

- The situation has not changed

- The situation has improved

22 - 28.11.2021

"Pre-war" rhetoric as a tool of Minsk's pressure on the EU

Having fallen into a dead end of the migration blackmail of the EU, the Belarusian regime continues to try to aggravate the situation,...

15 - 21.11.2021

The West has begun to speak a language that Minsk understands

The Belarusian regime has long accused the West of exerting force. Now Minsk faces reality and is unable to find a workable response.

08 - 14.11.2021

Kremlin has its own agenda regarding confrontation between Belarusian regime and West

The public statements and actions of the Kremlin are superficially supportive of Minsk in its confrontation with the West, but Russia has...

Image from https://t.me/radiosvaboda/40169

01 - 07.11.2021

The Military Doctrine of the "Union State" and the Migration Crisis

The approval of a joint Belarusian-Russian military doctrine, long blocked by Minsk, should be seen in the context of migration blackmail...

25 - 31.10.2021

Minsk once again invokes the “Polish threat.”

The Belarusian regime is once again trying to use the spectre of external threats to distract from domestic political problems.

18 - 24.10.2021

Lukashenka undermines COVID control measures as the leadership of the security forces is strengthened ahead of the referendum

In a repeat of spring 2020, anti-covid measures adopted by doctors and local authorities have been reversed following public criticism from...

04 - 10.10.2021

Afghanistan is not a Belarusian Problem

Conspiracy theories about drawing Belarus into a possible new Afghan war to deflect from Belarusian internal political problems have no...

04 - 10.10.2021

The migration crisis escalates on both sides of the border

The artificially manufactured crisis of illegal migration to EU countries via Belarus is becoming progressively more dangerous, both for...

27 - 03.10.2021

The Belarusian regime opens a Ukrainian Front

By engaging in anti-Ukrainian propaganda Minsk risks provoking a tangible response.

20 - 26.09.2021

Mixed Messaging from Minsk

The Belarusian regime continues to fulminate against the West within the country while intimating an interest in dialogue without However,...

Belarus-Russia relations

- The situation has deteriorated

- The situation has not changed

- The situation has improved

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22 - 28.11.2021

Integration without "dialogue". Lots of sensitive issues

The Belarusian economic authorities anticipate an increase in Russian oil imports in 2021.

15 - 21.11.2021

The Kremlin favours dialogue with the external and internal West

Vladimir Putin called on Alexander Lukashenka to start a dialogue with the opposition and cooperate with the European Union to resolve the...

08 - 14.11.2021

Nuts & Bolts of foreign policy

Minsk seeks to draw Russia into a broader confrontation with the West, though so far, without much success.

01 - 07.11.2021

Virtual State – Virtual Manifesto

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenka approved a package of the so-called 28 union integration programs between Belarus and Russia.

25 - 31.10.2021

*Someone* is trying to drive in a wedge again

As with the recent EAEU and CIS meetings, the upcoming session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of the Russian Federation...

18 - 24.10.2021

Joint meeting of the Defence Ministries of Belarus and Russia passes without significant results

The results of the meeting of the joint board of the Ministries of Defence of Belarus and Russia are mostly unremarkable, excepting perhaps...

04 - 10.10.2021

Beyond integration

Last week, two events were held to mark the rapprochement and re-integration of post-Soviet countries - a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian...

04 - 10.10.2021

Evasive manoeuvres

Facing the possibility of the European Union introducing the fifth package of sanctions against the Lukashenka regime, Minsk is...

27 - 03.10.2021

Is sovereignty back in fashion?

Belarusian-Russian Integration is beginning to lose momentum.

20 - 26.09.2021

Our [strong]man in Sochi

Putin suddenly convenes the Security Council of the Russian Federation to discuss the “Belarusian issue” and announces a new meeting with...

Belarus-West relations

- The situation has deteriorated

- The situation has not changed

- The situation has improved

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22 - 28.11.2021

Despite the de-escalation of the migration crisis, the West is increasing sanctions pressure

The de-escalation of the migration crisis in the second half of November did not lead to a revision of the plans of Western countries to...

15 - 21.11.2021

The EU opens technical dialogue with the Belarusian regime but does not recognise its legitimacy

The Belarusian regime was able to use the escalation of the migration crisis on the Belarusian-EU to prompt indirect negotiations regarding...

Александр Лукашенко и Ангела Меркель / Архивное фото AP

08 - 14.11.2021

Belarusian regime responds by escalating to the preparation of the 5th package of EU sanctions

Relative calm in Belarusian-Western relations has been overturned by an abrupt escalation of the migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian...

License: Creative Commons 3 - CC BY-SA 3.0

01 - 07.11.2021

EU agreed criteria for the fifth package of sanctions, but does not exclude dialogue with the regime

The EU has agreed on the criteria for new sanctions against Belarus in response to the migration crisis.

25 - 31.10.2021

Minsk looks for mediators for dialogue with the West

Relations between Belarus and the West are degrading under their own momentum, which manifests in the preparation of a new package of...

18 - 24.10.2021

EU finalizes the preparation of new sanctions, Minsk goes on counteroffensive

While the EU is finalizing a new package of sanctions in response to the migration crisis, the Belarusian regime is actively promoting its...

04 - 10.10.2021

EU will adopt the fifth package of sanctions in November

Approval of the fifth package of EU sanctions is postponed until November.

04 - 10.10.2021

The West contemplates increasing sanctions pressure

Belarus is firmly entrenched as a global problem in the eyes of Western countries, which continue to view sanctions pressure as the most...

27 - 03.10.2021

Minsk's back door diplomacy fails as the West intensifies criticism of the regime

The Belarusian crisis remains a concern to the West and international organizations of both global and regional scale.

20 - 26.09.2021

The Belarusian crisis remains on the agenda of the West; new sanctions are on the way

The UN has become the arena of rhetorical confrontation between the Lukashenka regime and Western countries.

The ruling elite

- The situation has deteriorated

- The situation has not changed

- The situation has improved

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22 - 28.11.2021

Belarusian government resumes support for public sector, Lukashenka has doubts about referendum

The National Bank fails to restrain the government from supporting unprofitable state-owned companies. Lukashenka is not so sure a...

15 - 21.11.2021

Lukashenka defines the agenda for the referendum as purges of opponents and the media continue

The regime has no intention of engaging in dialogue with the opposition and refuses to bribe the electorate in the face of falling GDP.

08 - 14.11.2021

The regime continues to flout the law as suppression of civil society and media activities continues

The actions of the security forces orchestrating the transit of migrants via Belarusian territory in contravention of Belarusian law causes...

Фота Leonid Scheglov/BelTA/Handout via REUTERS

01 - 07.11.2021

Regime refuses to buy population's loyalty; inadvertence of constitutional innovations

The authorities continue to shore up the budget via expropriation, tax rises and fines.

25 - 31.10.2021

State expropriation of funds from business and the population continues

The authorities pay increased attention to private and business expenditures, planning to increase tax collection to compensate for...

18 - 24.10.2021

The Union State: Towards Crisis A

On the eve of the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, experts are making forecasts about the near future of Russian-...

04 - 10.10.2021

The security forces suppress media audiences as covid-19 disinformation fosters distrust

The regime continues to subject society to repression, disinformation, and threats of criminal prosecution of dissidents, to reduce...

04 - 10.10.2021

The regime buys the loyalty of the state apparatus as the momentum for reform decreases

The ruling elites are directing budget resources to consolidate the loyalty of the state apparatus and the security forces at the expense...

27 - 03.10.2021

Constitutional amendments provide guarantees for Lukashenka

The ruling class is planning a referendum on constitutional amendments which would grant constitutional status to the All-Belarusian People...

20 - 26.09.2021

Taxing the population and business in anticipation of sanctions as spy mania returns

The ruling class continues to seek mechanisms to reduce the state’s pension obligations and shore up the budget via appropriations from the...

Фото из к/ф «Чиполино». реж. Борис Дёжкин. 1961. СССР

Society and political parties

- The situation has deteriorated

- The situation has not changed

- The situation has improved

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22 - 28.11.2021

A unified action plan for a referendum by democratic forces in exile unlikely to be supported by parties and initiatives inside Belarus

Democratic organizations advance the civil society agenda in European capitals, which is largely due to the migration crisis.

15 - 21.11.2021

Democratic forces formulate common position on referendum as Civil Society develops online services

Against the backdrop of Western capitals strong reaction to the migration crisis on the Belarusian-EU border, democratic forces endeavour...

08 - 14.11.2021

Democratic forces support the topic of new elections on the agenda

Adapting to continuing repressive conditions, civil society organisations are developing online services to maintain engagement with...

01 - 07.11.2021

Organizations ramp up activities with their supporters

Political exiles promote an agenda of negotiations between democratic forces and the Lukashenka regime at the international level,...

Варшава, Польша. 4 ноября 2021 года. Фото: Белсат

25 - 31.10.2021

The unified agenda of democratic organizations is blurring

Some political emigrant groups are trying to challenge the leadership of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in communication with supporters of...

18 - 24.10.2021

Civil Society presents a unified COVID-19 agenda. Political organizations cooperate to encourage political engagement

Civil Society organisations are focussing the attention of supporters of change on the anti-Covid agenda and attempting to counteract the...

04 - 10.10.2021

Political exiles promote sanctions, political organizations try to motivate activists

Political exiles retain influence at the international level and upon the agenda of relations between Western capitals and Minsk, but this...

04 - 10.10.2021

The audience of independent media diminishes. Critics of sanctions gain ground in Civil Society

The focus of discussion within civil society and political exiles is gradually shifting from a single agenda of demands against the...

Sanctions by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

27 - 03.10.2021

The unified agenda of Civil Society is unravelling as the prospects for dialogue decrease

The protracted political crisis is progressively widening the rift in Belarusian society, causing the prospects for dialogue between...

20 - 26.09.2021

Civil Society’s influence on the national agenda declines

The influence of Civil Society organisations on the national agenda continues to decrease, despite the relocation of media projects abroad...

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