by
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