Belarus

Belarus

Dissident Belarusian sprinter arrives in Poland

Tsimanouskaya claimed her team tried to force her to return home to Belarus, where she fears reprisal from the government after posting criticism on social media.

04/08/2021

Belarus

IOC investigates allegations that Belarus tried to force sprinter home

The International Olympic Committee has launched an investigation into the case of Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who claims that her team's officials have tried to force her home.

03/08/2021

Belarus

Poland grants a visa to sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya

Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has been granted a visa to travel to Poland, the country's deputy foreign minister has said.

01/08/2021

Belarus

Jailed Belarus journalist needs urgent hospital care, says press union

Andrei Skurko was arrested earlier this month when authorities raided prominent Nasha Niva newspaper. He has reportedly been infected with COVID-19 while in detention.

29/07/2021

Belarus

Joe Biden pledges support for Belarusians after Tsikhanouskaya visit

US President Joe Biden has spoken of his support for Belarusian pro-democracy forces after a White House meeting with the country's main opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

29/07/2021

Belarus

Euroviews. Europe should welcome in journalists forced to leave Belarus | View

"The people of Belarus deserve to know the doors of other European countries are open to them."

23/07/2021

Belarus

Belarus extends crackdown on opposition and independent media

Among those targeted on Friday were journalists linked to the Polish TV channel, Belsat, and the US-funded RFE/RL broadcaster.

16/07/2021

Belarus

Activists detained amid raids at human rights NGOs in Belarus

The Viasna human rights centre has stated that Belarusian security forces have searched its offices and arrested several activists.

14/07/2021

Belarus

Belarus targets leading opposition news website Nasha Niva

Belarusian authorities have blocked the website of a leading online media outlet and detained several of its journalists.

08/07/2021

Belarus

Former Belarusian presidential candidate given 14-year prison sentence

A court in Belarus has jailed former presidential contender Viktor Babariko for 14 years on corruption charges, which have been widely seen as politically motivated.

06/07/2021

My Europe Series

Belarus: meet two women who are risking prison to maintain dissent

Meet Sophia and Natallia. They are still openly against the government's continued crackdown on dissent. But their lives are complicated.

05/07/2021

Belarus

Belarus' president says Western states are trying to overthrow him

Alexander Lukashenko accused the US and Germany as well as neighbours Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland of preparing to remove him from power.

03/07/2021

Belarus

Belarus says it has dismantled 'terror cells' with ties to West

President Alexander Lukashenko said the "terrorist sleeper cells" allegedly plotting a coup against him had ties with Germany, Ukraine, the US, Poland and Lithuania.

02/07/2021

Belarus

Belarusian opposition Twitter accounts suspended 'in error'

Twitter accounts claiming to be "Belarusian People's Embassies" have been mistakenly suspended by the social network.

02/07/2021

Belarus

Belarus cuts cooperation on migration with EU over sanctions

The EU on Thursday slapped new bruising economic sanctions on Belarus over last month's diversion of a passenger jet to arrest a dissident journalist.

28/06/2021

Belarus

Belarus: Journalist Roman Protasevich moved from jail to house arrest

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Friday called moving Pratasevich and Sapega to house arrest “good news,” but stressed it is not the end. “House arrest is not freedom, they're still facing charges, their every step is still being watched"

25/06/2021

Belarus

Trial of Sergei Tsikhanousky, Sviatlana's husband, opens in Belarus

Sergei Tsikhanousky, a popular video blogger, is one of six men standing trial. He is accused of "preparation of mass disorder" and "incitement to hatred".

24/06/2021

Belarus

'There's no going back': EU promises new sanctions will hurt Belarus

As well as travel bans and asset freezes, Europe plans to ban exports of fertiliser, tobacco and petroleum.

21/06/2021

Belarus

Ryanair CEO says pilot given no 'alternatives' but to land in Belarus

The pilot of the Ryanair flight that was diverted to Belarus wasn't given "any great alternatives" but to land in Minsk, CEO Michael O'Leary said.

15/06/2021

Belarus

Belarusian journalist arrested off flight was 'hostage' at briefing

The Belarusian dissident journalist who was arrested after authorities diverted a Ryanair flight to Minsk was present at a foreign ministry press briefing on Monday.

14/06/2021

Belarus

Poland hits back as Belarus makes WW2 invasion date a public holiday

Belarus declared a national holiday on September 17, the same day Soviet Forces invaded Poland in World War II in 1939.

09/06/2021

Belarus

Belarus toughens laws against protesters and 'extremism'

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed into effect a law tightening sanctions against protesters taking part in unauthorised rallies and increasing penalties for "extremism".

08/06/2021

Belarus

Exiled Belarusians protest at closure of Polish land border

Officially the reason for the closure since December is COVID-19 - but many suspect Lukashenko of using the pandemic as a pretext for clamping down on the protest movement against his rule.

05/06/2021

Belarus

Belarusian airlines banned from flying over EU or using its airports

It follows Minsk's move to divert a Ryanair passenger plane and arrest dissident journalist Roman Protasevich last month.

04/06/2021

Belarus

'Spoken after torture': Opposition slams journalist's video confession

In the video aired on Belarus state TV, regime critic Roman Protasevich claimed opposition protests were pointless and that he had been set up.

03/06/2021

Belarus

Belarusian activist stabs himself in court to protest repression

Stsiapan Latypau's desperate act on Tuesday sheds light on the situation of Belarus' 454 political prisoners. The activist was arrested during massive protests against President Lukashenko last September.

01/06/2021