Belarus

Belarus Frees Prisoners As US Lifts Sanctions In Deal

December 14, 2025 3:04 am

Belarus released 123 prisoners on Saturday, including leading opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, following an agreement with the United States to ease sanctions on the country, according to officials and rights groups.

The releases followed talks in Minsk between Belarusian authorities and John Coale, the special envoy appointed by US President Donald Trump to oversee negotiations with Belarus. As part of the deal, Washington agreed to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash exports, a critical component of global fertilizer supplies and one of the country’s main sources of revenue.

US officials confirmed that restrictions on …

Lithuania Plans Indefinite Closure Of Belarus Border Crossings

October 31, 2025 2:18 am

After repeated airspace disruptions caused by suspected smuggler balloons, Lithuanian government prepares to shut its Belarus border crossings indefinitely.

Lithuania has announced plans to indefinitely close its border crossings with Belarus following a series of airspace disruptions caused by suspected smuggler balloons drifting across the frontier.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said the decision was being prepared after three consecutive evenings of air traffic suspensions at Vilnius Airport — the nation’s busiest hub — due to unidentified objects believed to be carrying contraband. The incidents, which occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 24, 25, 26, 2025, forced temporary airport closures,

…

Belarus Opposition Leader Meets EU To Urge Sanctions

September 21, 2020 6:04 pm

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Monday urged the EU to show courage and step up its support for her movement, as the bloc’s internal squabbles about sanctions rolled on.

The former Soviet republic has been convulsed by unprecedented demonstrations against President Alexander Lukashenko since he was returned to power in a disputed August 9 election and launched a brutal crackdown.

Tikhanovskaya met EU foreign ministers in Brussels and urged them to sanction Lukashenko but, despite repeated statements condemning the veteran strongman and warning of measures, after 44 days the bloc has yet to act.

“Sanctions are very important in …

Tens Of Thousands Rally In Belarus Despite Mass Arrests

September 13, 2020 3:17 pm

Riot police in Balaclavas, Belarus harshly detained some 250 demonstrators as tens of thousands of people gathered for an opposition protest on the eve of talks between President Alexander Lukashenko and his main ally, Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Masked agents in uniform and plain clothes snatched people from the streets as they assembled for the “March of Heroes” demonstration, often pushing or punching them, a video posted on the Belarusian news site Tut.by showed.

“Some 250 people were detained in various districts of the capital,” the interior ministry said in a

…

Belarus Workers Stage Strikes Over Disputed Vote

August 17, 2020 5:29 pm

Workers at factories in Belarus answered opposition calls for fresh strikes on Monday after a historic weekend protest over President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed re-election brought tens of thousands to the streets.

In footage widely shared on social media, Lukashenko was confronted by workers at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) who shouted him down with chants of “Leave!” as he tried to give a speech.

A visibly angry Lukashenko walked off the stage, saying: “Thank you, I have said everything. You can shout ‘Leave’.”

Pressure has been building on the ex-Soviet nation’s longtime leader since the August 9 election, which …

Protester Killed, Dozens Arrested In Belarus Unrest – Rights Group

August 10, 2020 5:53 pm

A protester was killed and dozens wounded when police in Belarus used stun grenades, rubber bullets, and tear gas to disperse demonstrators disputing election results, a prominent rights group said on Monday.

The Viasna Human Rights Centre said the young male protester suffered a traumatic head injury when he was hit by a police vehicle and medics were unable to save him.

Viasna representative Sergey Sys told AFP that more than 300 people had been arrested on Sunday, including more than 150 in the capital Minsk.

Read Also: Protesters Storm Lebanon Foreign Ministry After Deadly Blast

“Dozens of people were …

Belarus League Attracts Global Attention As It Plays On

March 29, 2020 12:51 pm

Football is suspended in the UK and across most of world because of the coronavirus pandemic – but the game rolls on in Belarus.

The Belarusian Premier League rarely gets a mention in normal circumstances yet it is attracting attention from foreign fans as one of the few places around the globe – and the only place in Europe – where football is still being played.

On Saturday, there were six top-flight games in the eastern European country including the derby between FC Minsk and Dinamo Minsk watched by a capacity 3,000 crowd in Belarus’ capital.

“It so happened that …