Latest Alexander Lukashenko News
Belarus' authoritarian ruler will face only token challengers in presidential vote
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus' election commission on Monday allowed seven politicians loyal to President Alexander Lukashenko to start collecting signatures to run against him in January's election, in an apparent bid to create a semblance of competition to the longtime authoritarian ruler. ...
A 22-year-old political prisoner has died in Belarus, rights campaigners say
A 22-year-old political prisoner has died behind bars in Belarus, the country's oldest human rights group said Saturday. Russian-born Dmitriy Schletgauer, who had been serving a 12-year sentence for espionage and “facilitating extremist activities” is the seventh dissenter to...
A dissident film director from Belarus is released after 1 year of detention in Serbia
BERLIN (AP) — A noted Belarusian film director and dissident who was held in Serbia for a year while Belarus sought his extradition has been released and gone to Germany. Andrei Hniot told The Associated Press that Serbian authorities released him from house arrest on Thursday,...
Belarus commission approves Lukashenko's 7th term bid but rejects opposition candidates
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The national elections commission in Belarus on Tuesday registered an initiative group for authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to seek a seventh term in office, but rejected the attempts of two opposition politicians to get on the ballot. The...
Belarus sets a Jan. 26 election that's almost certain to extend its authoritarian leader's rule
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Lawmakers in Belarus on Wednesday set the next presidential election for Jan. 26, a vote almost certain to extend the three-decade rule of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has suppressed all political dissent. Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana...
Belarus arrests well-known analyst as crackdown on opposition continues
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Police in Belarus have arrested a well-known political analyst who is the husband of an imprisoned journalist in the country's relentless crackdown on opposition to authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Interior Ministry on Tuesday showed Ihar...
An independent journalist arrested on treason charges in Belarus
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — An independent journalist in Belarus has been arrested on charges of high treason, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on media and free speech by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko's government, a media rights watchdog said Thursday. Danil...
Belarus adds 1 year to imprisoned opposition activist's sentence
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A court in Belarus on Tuesday sentenced an imprisoned opponent of hardline President Alexander Lukashenko to an additional year behind bars for disobeying prison officials. Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk was arrested in 2021 during the crackdown on opposition that...
Imprisoned Belarus activist who was a symbol of defiance hasn't been heard from for months
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The last time any of Maria Kolesnikova's family had contact with the imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist was more than 18 months ago. Fellow inmates at the penal colony reported hearing her plead for medical help from inside her tiny and smelly cell. ...
Authorities in Belarus open new criminal probes against scores of opposition activists
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities said Tuesday that they have launched new criminal investigations against dozens of opposition activists, part of a sweeping crackdown on dissent ahead of next year's presidential vote, in which the country's authoritarian President Alexander...
