All trends
The government has frozen wage growth; unregistered NGOs are facing economic, rather than criminal penalties
Belarusian ideologists are outplayed by Kremlin propagandists; security forces step up the pressure on independent media and trade unions
Public debate about the constitutional referendum is unlikely; reformists’ influence on the state economic policy has subsided
Ideologists lobby Internet restrictions; law enforcement relaxed the pressure on the opposition
State-run media musters to enhance impact on public opinion, law enforcement steps up pressure on agriculture
The president comes down on agrarians; local authorities are put in charge of the fight against “social dependants”
The authorities improve relations with business; law enforcement has weakened the financial capacity of the protest movement
The authorities step up repressions before Freedom Day; law enforcement focuses on persecuting middle managers for corruption
The state proposes development opportunities for IT and education for national democrats should they waive claims to political power
The state structures relations with local authorities and business
The president slams the government; state ideologues promote a loyal attitude towards the Belarusian People’s Republic
The authorities stimulate business activity in the regions; the power block steps up pressure on the opposition
The Belarusian authorities willing to move ahead with gradual economic liberalisation but not even minimal democratisation
The president replaced heads of major media organisations; the authorities attempted to discredit opposition election observation
The power block has a priority in the state policy; the state has stepped up control over the IT industry
The Information Ministry has enhanced the Internet censorship; an updated version of the decree on social dependants has been approved
The Belarusian leadership is wary of nomenclature’s ambitions; candidates from pro-governmental parties have increased in number
The authorities kept the local elections low profile and the power block focused on large retailers
Annual review 2017: a subtle request for updates in the institutional design of power
The authorities encourage business initiative, enhance domestic security and bolster pressure on independent media
The Belarusian authorities demonstrate interest in further visa liberalization; the media coverage of the local elections has increased
The trend towards economic liberalization has anchored; the president focused on the regions
The Belarusian authorities curb political activity during the election campaign and resume populism
The Belarusian leadership restrains economic reforms and disregards requests for political reforms from some executives
Law enforcement steps up pressure on protest leaders; reformists promote their agenda at KEF-2017
The Belarusian government is redistributing state support and reforming housing and communal services due to cooperation with international banks
The state is relaxing business environment to make up for reduced social protection
Belarusian authorities weaken pressure on business, but gloss over security forces pressure on opposition
Lukashenka retains monopoly in determining security policy of Belarus
Belarusian authorities bolster tension in protest movement and relax business environment
State aid unlikely to resolve problems with Belarusian economy
The ruling elite
The government has frozen wage growth; unregistered NGOs are facing economic, rather than criminal penalties
May 14 – May 20
Belarusian ideologists are outplayed by Kremlin propagandists; security forces step up the pressure on independent media and trade unions
May 7 – May 13
Public debate about the constitutional referendum is unlikely; reformists’ influence on the state economic policy has subsided
April 23 – April 29
Ideologists lobby Internet restrictions; law enforcement relaxed the pressure on the opposition
April 16 – April 22
State-run media musters to enhance impact on public opinion, law enforcement steps up pressure on agriculture
April 16 – April 22
The president comes down on agrarians; local authorities are put in charge of the fight against “social dependants”
April 2 – April 8
The authorities improve relations with business; law enforcement has weakened the financial capacity of the protest movement
March 26 – April 1
The authorities step up repressions before Freedom Day; law enforcement focuses on persecuting middle managers for corruption
March 19 – March 25
The state proposes development opportunities for IT and education for national democrats should they waive claims to political power
March 12 – March 18
The state structures relations with local authorities and business
March 5 – March 11
The president slams the government; state ideologues promote a loyal attitude towards the Belarusian People’s Republic
February 26 – March 4
The authorities stimulate business activity in the regions; the power block steps up pressure on the opposition
February 19 – February 25
The Belarusian authorities willing to move ahead with gradual economic liberalisation but not even minimal democratisation
February 12 – February 18
The president replaced heads of major media organisations; the authorities attempted to discredit opposition election observation
February 5 – February 11
The power block has a priority in the state policy; the state has stepped up control over the IT industry
January 29 – February 4
The Information Ministry has enhanced the Internet censorship; an updated version of the decree on social dependants has been approved
January 22 – January 28
The Belarusian leadership is wary of nomenclature’s ambitions; candidates from pro-governmental parties have increased in number
January 15 – January 21
The authorities kept the local elections low profile and the power block focused on large retailers
January 8 – January 14
Annual review 2017: a subtle request for updates in the institutional design of power
January 1 – January 7
The authorities encourage business initiative, enhance domestic security and bolster pressure on independent media
December 11 – December 17
The Belarusian authorities demonstrate interest in further visa liberalization; the media coverage of the local elections has increased
December 4 – December 10
The trend towards economic liberalization has anchored; the president focused on the regions
November 20 – November 26
The Belarusian authorities curb political activity during the election campaign and resume populism
November 13 – November 19
The Belarusian leadership restrains economic reforms and disregards requests for political reforms from some executives
November 6 – November 12
Law enforcement steps up pressure on protest leaders; reformists promote their agenda at KEF-2017
October 30 – November 5
The Belarusian government is redistributing state support and reforming housing and communal services due to cooperation with international banks
October 23 – October 29
The state is relaxing business environment to make up for reduced social protection
October 16 – October 22
Belarusian authorities weaken pressure on business, but gloss over security forces pressure on opposition
October 9 – October 15
Lukashenka retains monopoly in determining security policy of Belarus
October 9 – October 15
Belarusian authorities bolster tension in protest movement and relax business environment
October 2 – October 8
State aid unlikely to resolve problems with Belarusian economy
September 11 – September 17