Latest Belarus government News
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...
Belarus' parliament votes to leave Europe's conventional forces treaty already abandoned by Russia
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The Belarusian parliament on Wednesday voted to suspend the country's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty that once was a key security doctrine for the continent, a 1990 agreement that was abandoned last year by Russia. The bill,...
A political prisoner in Belarus smuggles out account of beatings after writing on toilet paper
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A political prisoner in Belarus has shed light on the country's brutal prison system by smuggling out her story written on pieces of toilet paper. Katsiaryna Novikava, 38, described being repeatedly beaten by security forces after she was detained in June...
Belarus convicts a famous dissident rock band and sentences its members to correctional labor
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Friday convicted a famous dissident rock band, designating the band and its three members as extremist and sentencing them to two years of correctional labor. It was the latest in a yearslong crackdown on dissent that has engulfed this country of...
Man awaiting trial for insulting Belarusian president dies in jail
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Belarusian man who was in jail awaiting trial on charges of insulting the authoritarian president has died in custody, the country's leading human rights group said Thursday. Aliaksandr Kulinich, 51, died Tuesday in a detention center in the western city...
Nobel laureate Bialiatski's condition worsens after 1,000 days in Belarusian prison, his wife says
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Ales Bialiatski marked his 1,000th day in prison in Belarus on Tuesday amid increasing fears about his deteriorating health, his wife said. Natalia Pinchuk told The Associated Press that Bialiatski has remained in...
Belarus to pull away from Europe conventional forces treaty already abandoned by Russia
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The authoritarian president of Belarus on Friday said the country would suspend participation in the troubled Conventional Forces in Europe treaty that once was a key security doctrine for the continent. President Alexander Lukashenko introduced a bill...
Belarus arrests well-known activist on charges punishable by up to 4 years in prison, group says
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Authorities in Belarus have arrested a well-known activist on charges punishable by up to four years in prison, the country's oldest rights group said Tuesday in what appears to be the latest in the yearslong crackdown on dissent. Dzmitry Kuchuk, whose...
An imprisoned journalist in Belarus designated a political prisoner by a leading rights group
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A prominent journalist in Belarus was designated a political prisoner on Tuesday by the country's leading human rights group following his conviction on charges widely seen as part of an ongoing crackdown on dissent. Ihar Karnei, who used to write for Radio...
27 Nobel laureates demand the release of political prisoners in Belarus
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — In an open letter, 27 Nobel laureates have demanded the release of all political prisoners in Belarus including Ales Bialiatski, the winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel laureates said the situation in Belarus is a “humanitarian catastrophe”...
