Latest Belarus government News
Belarus opposition figure extradited from Vietnam faces terrorism charges, possible death penalty
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Belarusian opposition figure was detained in Vietnam and extradited to Belarus, where he is facing charges of terrorism and possibly a death penalty, the opposition said Thursday. The arrest of Vasil Verameichyk, 34, is the latest in an unrelenting...
Russia's ally Belarus targets hundreds for showing solidarity with Ukraine during the war
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Hundreds of people in Belarus who have shown solidarity with Ukraine have been arrested in a sweeping crackdown under authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, a key ally of Russia in the war, human rights activists said Wednesday. At least 1,671...
Belarus police launch sweeping anti-riot drills ahead of January's election
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian police on Tuesday launched sweeping anti-riot drills ahead of January’s election in which authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term, a signal from the authorities that they wouldn't tolerate any protests. Interior...
Belarus has arrested scores of relatives of dissidents ahead of presidential vote, activists say
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities have detained over 100 relatives of political prisoners in a new wave of arrests ahead of January’s election in which authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term, rights activists said Friday. The Viasna...
Imprisoned Belarus activist Maria Kolesnikova is considering asking for a pardon, her father says
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova is considering asking the country's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko for a pardon after more than four years behind bars, her father said Wednesday. Alexander Kolesnikov spoke to The...
Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after more than 20 months without any communication with relatives or friends and met with her father, a human rights group said Tuesday. Kolesnikova, one of the most popular and...
Belarusian authorities launch a new wave of repression ahead of presidential vote
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities have launched a new wave of arrests, seeking to uproot any sign of dissent ahead of January's election in which authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term, rights campaigners said. The Viasna human rights...
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,...
