Latest Alexander Lukashenko News
Belarus targets opposition activists with raids and property seizures
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Authorities in Belarus on Thursday announced raids and the seizure of property belonging to 104 opposition activists who have fled the country, the latest step in a crackdown on dissent that has continued unabated for nearly four years. Belarus'...
Belarus launches nuclear drills a day after Russia announces them amid tensions with West
Belarus on Tuesday launched drills involving missiles and warplanes capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, which close ally Russia has deployed there amid tensions with the West over Ukraine. The Belarusian maneuvers began a day after Russia announced plans to hold similar...
Exiled Belarus opposition leader says she hasn’t heard from her imprisoned husband for over 400 days
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus’ exiled opposition leader said Thursday that she hasn’t heard from her imprisoned husband for 421 days. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said holding her husband incommunicado is part of the government’s repressive policies. Siarhei...
Belarus labels German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle ‘extremist,’ bans activities in the country
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Monday declared that the Belarusian service of the German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle is an “extremist" organization and banned all its activities in the country. The declaration means anyone working with Deutsche Welle...
Hackers claim to have infiltrated Belarus' main security service
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Belarusian hacker activist group claims to have infiltrated the network of the country’s main KGB security agency and accessed personnel files of over 8,600 employees of the organization, which still goes under its Soviet name. The authorities have not...
Belarus claims it prevented drone attacks from Lithuania. Vilnius rejects the allegations
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A top security official in Belarus claimed Thursday that the country has prevented attempted drone strikes from Lithuania targeting the Belarusian capital and surrounding areas. Lithuania denied the claim. Ivan Tertel, head of the Belarusian Committee for...
The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for over 400 days
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — It's been 434 days since the family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova heard from her, her relatives said Wednesday, on the activist's 42nd birthday. Kolesnikova, who is serving 11 years in prison for helping organize...
Nearly 100 Belarus political prisoners have severe medical problems, rights group says
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Nearly 100 political prisoners in Belarus, incarcerated in a severe crackdown on dissent, have severe medical problems and could be close to death, the country's respected human rights group Viasna said Monday. Viasna, whose Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder...
Poland's leader says his country is ready to host NATO members' nuclear weapons to counter Russia
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s president says the NATO member would be ready to host the nuclear weapons of the military alliances's other members in response to Russia’s moving its nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus. President Andrzej Duda made the comments in an interview...
Hackers claim Belarus fertilizer plant infiltrated to demand political prisoner release
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Belarusian hacker activist group claims to have infiltrated computers at the country's largest fertilizer plant to pressure the government to release political prisoners. The state-run Grodno Azot plant has made no comment on the claim by the Belarusian...