All trends
The ruling elite
The Shifting Landscape: Lukashenka’s Position Weakens as the Ruling Class Adapts to Transformations
May 15 – May 21
State influence over the media landscape increases; the public sector recovers from sanctions
May 8 – May 14
Opaque state investment and repression of dissidents continue
May 1 – May 7
The government increases support for the public sector; officials increase businesses’ social obligations
April 24 – April 30
The ruling class rallies around Lukashenka as the government focuses on import substitution
April 17 – April 23
The Cult of Lukashenka and Economic Stimulus
April 10 – April 16
Fines shore up the state budget as the authorities target private pharmacies
April 3 – April 9
Lukashenka aims to retain personal control as the authorities scale up repression and expropriations
March 27 – April 2
Lukashenka is forced to agree a degree of power-sharing as the security forces shore up state funds
March 20 – March 26
The Lukashenka regime intensifies repression as the leadership urges officials to economise
March 13 – March 19
Security forces intensify repression as the regime resumes financial support for the state sector
March 6 – March 12
The regime demotivates opponents with repression and continues to intervene in the economy
February 27 – March 5
Regime-allied independentists are under pressure from proponents of a “Russian World”
February 20 – February 26
The regime fights for survival as the economy is reoriented to support the security forces
February 13 – February 19
Financial support for state-owned companies increases as Lukashenka deflects popular discontent onto businessmen
February 6 – February 12
Pension rules tighten as persecution of the 2020 demonstrators continues
January 30 – February 5
The regime is progressively more isolated from the people as property seizures from the “disloyal” increase
January 23 – January 29
Rapidly changing workforce and regulations; stable functioning machine of violence
January 16 – January 22
Repressive Sovietization of society with asset seizures from businesses and regime opponents
January 9 – January 15
2022: A reactionary regime consolidates around Lukashenka
December 26 – January 1
Lukashenka regains popularity as the security forces intensify the persecution of opponents
December 12 – December 18
Redistributing assets: expropriation from opponents and apartments for the military
December 5 – December 11
Opponents silenced, and businesses targeted for violating price controls
November 28 – December 4
Democratic activists are purged ahead of elections as private sector finance is raided to shore up the public sector
November 21 – November 27
The public sector is counting on import substitution, while Lukashenka focuses on the IT sector
November 14 – November 20
The persecution of dissidents continues as the government seeks to counteract the fallout from Lukashenka’s price control decrees
November 7 – November 13
The authorities continue to fine businesses and remain isolated from society
October 31 – November 6
Surcharges on businesses and disloyal groups; non-stop repressions
October 24 – October 30
Lukashenka’s populism destabilises trade as the regime targets exiled democratic leaders
October 17 – October 23
The regime is intervening more directly in the economy and society
October 10 – October 16
Lukashenka pivots to populism as the state apparatus seeks to suppress inflation
October 3 – October 9
Lukashenka delays the introduction of the collegial management; the regime offers a dialogue with the loyalist opposition
September 26 – October 2
Lukashenka makes contradictory statements regarding dissidents. Conciliatory gestures mixed with support for further repression
September 19 – September 25
Continuing repression of activists and coercion of loyalty from private businesses
September 12 – September 18
The ruling class aims to soften the regime’s image, but security forces insist on the logic of repression
September 5 – September 11
The support base of Lukashenka’s regime narrows as demands for more collegial decision-making grow
August 29 – September 4
The authorities foment fear in society as Lukashenka directs the creation of government-aligned “NGOs”
August 22 – August 28