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The Latest Breaking News from Minsk

40 years later, Russia is still silencing the voices of Chernobyl

In June 2018 I had the opportunity to visit Minsk, the capital of Belarus. In a large bookshop in the city centre – beneath the inquisitorial gaze of the ever-present portraits of the dictator Alexander Lukashenko – I asked the bookseller for one of the volumes of Svetlana Alexievich’s collected…

The Conversation

Belarus passes bill to crack down on LGBTQ+ rights echoing similar law in Russia

Belarus decriminalised homosexuality in 1994 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it doesn’t recognise same-sex marriages and lacks protection for LGBTQ+ rights.

Euronews

North Korea and Belarus sign ‘fundamental’ treaty as Lukashenko visits Kim in Pyongyang

Analysts say trip signals Pyongyang’s deepening alignment with Russia and Belarus

The Independent UK

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Belarus releases 250 political prisoners after negotiations with US, envoy says

There are more than 1,100 political prisoners in Belarusian jails, many arrested after a disputed 2020 election that triggered widespread protests.

Euronews

Ukraine sanctions Belarus’ Lukashenka, saying he will face ‘special consequences’

In 2022, Moscow used Belarus as a launchpad for its attack and has been trying to drag Minsk further into its war since.

Euronews

Awkward moment on University Challenge as politician wrongly places Minsk in Russia

Former Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer has been mocked for a geography faux par on University Challenge.

Evening Standard

Belarus frees political dissidents Bialiatski, Kolesnikova and others

Belarusian street protest leader Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Prize winner Ales Bialiatski walked free on Saturday with 121 other political prisoners, released in an unprecedented US-brokered deal, rights groups announced.

Radio France Internationale

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Lithuania declares state of emergency over balloon incursions from Belarus

The Baltic state says the cigarette-laden balloons originating from Moscow-allied Belarus are a form of hybrid attack and a threat to its national security.

Euronews

Tsikhanouskaya supports Lithuania's border closure amid Belarusian 'hybrid attacks'

In an exclusive interview with Euronews, the Belarusian opposition leader, living in exile in Lithuania, called the measure justified and urged Europe to stay united against provocations from both Minsk and Moscow.

Euronews

‘His drug is power’: Lukashenko reaches out to the west

President of Belarus has been edging out of the diplomatic freeze, cautiously probing for space beyond Moscow

The Guardian - UK

Belarus, Russia conduct joint military drills amid NATO tensions

Moscow and Minsk insist, however, that the drills are defensive, adding that Western security concerns are ‘nonsense’.

Al Jazeera

Russia flexes its military muscles at NATO’s doorstep days after sending drones to Poland

Poland closed all border crossings with Belarus as the joint Russia-Belarus military exercises Zapad-2025 begin at NATO’s doorstep. Moscow and Minks claim the drills simulate repelling an attack against Russia and Belarus. But Zapad-2021 masked Russia’s preparations for its invasion of Ukraine.

Euronews

Russia and Belarus launch military exercise that fueled Western concerns

Russia and Belarus have launched a long-planned joint military exercise involving thousands of troops that has raised concern in the West

The Independent UK

Belarus Frees 52 Prisoners, Including Veteran Dissident, Journalists

Belarus on Thursday freed 52 political prisoners, including an EU staff member, journalists, and dissidents -- a release mediated by the United States as Minsk seeks closer ties with President Donald Trump.

International Business Times

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The Guardian - UK

Belarus frees 52 political prisoners, including foreigners, after visit by US delegation

Move seen as effort to win US favour and sanctions relief, as crackdown on dissent continues

The Independent UK

War games involving Russia and Belarus start this week. What to know about the military drills

The last time Russia and Belarus held major joint military drills in 2022, Moscow sent its troops into Ukraine just days later

Euronews

Flashbang grenade injures Polish soldier in Belarus border migrant clash

Poland has faced a migration crisis at its Belarus border since 2021, with Warsaw accusing Minsk of using thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East in a hybrid warfare operation, luring them with false promises of EU access.

Euronews

Russian allies Belarus and Iran agree to boost defence as part of raft of agreements

Lukashenka, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for Moscow’ full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and later allowed the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles.

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Euronews

Authorities in Belarus continue crackdown on dissent, rights group Viasna says

Mass arrests and convictions of government critics in Belarus have continued since 2020, when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was handed a sixth term in office in an election that the opposition and the West denounced as rigged.

Euronews

Exclusive: Belarus releases political prisoners, including opposition leader Siarhei Tsikhanouski

The Belarus president pardoned several prisoners on Saturday during the visit of US special envoy Keith Kellogg in a move to ease tensions with the West.

Euronews

Tsikhanouskaya says Lukashenka 'cannot be trusted' if US envoy travels to Belarus

US envoy Keith Kellogg is reportedly due to travel to Minsk to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine with Belarus President Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

The National (Scotland)

Belarus see late FIFA plea for Scotland visit rejected

FIFA have rejected a late plea from Belarus to play their World Cup game against Scotland in September at their brand new stadium in Minsk.

The Independent UK

China to send honour guard to Russia and Belarus for Victory Day anniversary

Videos shared on Chinese social media show PLA troops rehearsing in Minsk and Moscow in the past week

The Guardian - UK

Germany will not invite Russia and Belarus to second world war commemoration

Moscow and Minsk ambassadors excluded over concerns they could ‘exploit’ event for anti-Ukraine propaganda

Euronews

Lukashenko sworn in again as Belarus' president, tells critics 'You have no future'

Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated presidential election on 26 January as a farce.

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Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Aliaksandr Lukashenka

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Maria Kolesnikova

21 stories

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