Latest Belarus News

The Moscow concert massacre was a major security blunder. What's behind that failure?

Mar. 29, 2024 00:08 AM EDT

Hours before gunmen last week carried out the bloodiest attack in two decades in Russia, authorities made an addition to a government register of extremist and terrorist groups: They included the international LGBTQ+ “movement.” That addition to the register followed a Russian...

The death toll in the Moscow concert hall attack rises to 143, while 80 others remain hospitalized

Mar. 27, 2024 15:31 PM EDT

MOSCOW (AP) — The death toll from last week's Moscow concert hall attack rose to 143, Russian authorities said Wednesday. Around 80 other people wounded in the siege by gunmen remain hospitalized. The Friday night massacre in Crocus City Hall, a sprawling shopping and entertainment...

Russia persists in blaming Ukraine for concert attack despite its denial and Islamic State's claim

Mar. 26, 2024 17:12 PM EDT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian officials persisted Tuesday in saying Ukraine and the West had a role in last week's deadly Moscow concert hall attack despite vehement denials of involvement by Kyiv and a claim of responsibility by an affiliate of the Islamic State group. Without offering...

An imprisoned journalist in Belarus designated a political prisoner by a leading rights group

Mar. 26, 2024 16:34 PM EDT

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...

Russian foreign minister hails soccer game with Serbia's national team and meets with counterpart

Mar. 21, 2024 15:30 PM EDT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Thursday in Moscow with his Serbian counterpart ahead of a soccer game between the countries' national teams that was the Russian men's squad's first European friendly since the fighting in Ukraine began two years ago. Russia...

27 Nobel laureates demand the release of political prisoners in Belarus

Mar. 21, 2024 10:30 AM EDT

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”...

Sabalenka says her 'heart is broken' by Koltsov's death, asks for privacy for his family

Mar. 20, 2024 18:40 PM EDT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka said her “heart is broken” by the death of Konstantin Koltsov, asking for privacy for herself and the family of the former Belarusian hockey player she had dated. Koltsov died Monday at 42 in Miami, days before the second-ranked...

Belarusian authorities confirm raids against opposition activists over new 'people's embassies'

Mar. 20, 2024 15:10 PM EDT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities said Wednesday they have launched dozens of raids to target those suspected of “extremist” activities in new efforts by the political opposition to create “people's embassies” abroad. The raids are the latest move in a...

Prominent journalist goes on trial in Belarus on charges widely seen as politically motivated

Mar. 19, 2024 16:02 PM EDT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A prominent independent journalist went on trial in Belarus on Tuesday on extremism charges widely seen as politically motivated. Ihar Karnei, who used to write for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other independent news outlets, is accused of...

A Catholic activist in Belarus is handed a 3-year sentence as a crackdown on dissent intensifies

Mar. 15, 2024 14:17 PM EDT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Catholic activist in Belarus was handed a three-year prison sentence Friday on charges that Western diplomats have denounced as politically driven, the latest move in the authorities' sweeping crackdown on the country's civil society. Uladzislau Beladzed,...