Two anniversaries that occurred in Belarus in 2019 were symptomatic of the current situation of the country, partly with respect to the contrast they evoke: 20 years ago, Belarus and Russia signed the Union State Treaty, and 25 years ago, Alexander Lukashenka was elected as Belarus’s first and, thus far, Read more
While preserving his power-politics prerogatives, Alexander Lukashenka, the president of Belarus since 1994, has steered a foreign policy course intended to maintain the country’s national autonomy despite its economic dependency on Moscow and made it possible for the nearly ten million-strong population to secure a livelihood through independent economic activity Read more
The situation in Belarus Belarus is feeling the political impact of Moscow’s aggressive policy towards neighbouring states with which it shares a Soviet history: Supported by an alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church, the Kremlin is promoting a concept of statehood and nation based on the “values of Russian culture” Read more
1. The situation in Belarus Moscow – Minsk tensions To shore up its precarious strategic situation, the authoritarian Lukashenko regime is pursuing a policy of controlled cooperation with the Russian Federation. Under Vladimir Putin, the Russian Federation seeks to establish a Moscow-steered Eurasian Economic Union; Belarus plays an important role Read more
Presidential elections were held in Belarus on 11 October 2015. As expected, Lukashenka was again elected to the presidency in elections that were, once again, rigged. And once again, new refinements in election manipulation were introduced. Foreign policy considerations suggest that a more positive evaluation of the regime on the Read more
On the situation in Belarus and recommendations for active measures to be taken by the European Union and its Member States I. Confrontation in Eastern Europe The Russian Federation has failed to recognise the resignation of Ukrainian President Yanukovych, which was forced by the Maidan demonstrations in February 2014 after Read more
On the situation in Belarus and recommendations for active measures to be taken by the European Union and its Member States The Situation: Belarus on stand-by. The foreign policy pursued by the dictator Alexander Lukashenko can aptly be described, to use an expression steeped in history, as a display of “seesaw Read more
The situation Alexander Lukashenko is the master of the “House of Belarus”, he scrupulously represses manifestations of resistance within the country’s social and political structures and circles, and he enjoys the rewards of rejecting closer cooperation with the European Union and its members, which have been forced by the Euro Read more
The situation The economic and financial crisis in Belarus-a consequence of the planned economy and the decreasing level of Russian subsidies-has jeopardized the “social contract” between the population, on the one side, and the president, as the guarantor of economic and social stability and gradual improvement, on the other. Against Read more
Situation analysis and political recommendations The regime under pressure over its foreign policy. The upcoming presidential elections in Belarus, which are set to take place on 19th December 2010, are being overshadowed by a substantial deterioration in the relationship between the country and its president Alexander Lukashenko with Russia, by a Read more