Ukraine war: Belarus loosing more and more support among few Western friends she stll has

Landlocked Belaru:s is losing more access to its western neighbors. Since the start of the month, Poland has sent more troops toward its border with the country and Lithuania has shut down two of its six crossing points with Belarus. Latvia is also considering border closures: One official told DW that "active consultations" are taking place, with a decision planned later this month.

The three European Union members bordering Belarus say they're responding to the reported presence of Wagner mercenaries on Belarusian territory, after the private Russian military group's fleeting and ill-fated June rebellion.

"This decision is one of the preventive measures aimed at managing emerging threats to national security and possible provocations at the border," Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said last week in a statement announcing the temporary closures. "It will enable border officers to redistribute their capacities at the border with Belarus and pay even larger attention to the protection of the state border."

Read more at: https://www.dw,com

Ukraine conflict: Putin's decision to store nuclear weapons in Belarus brings world closer to nuclear war than ever before, says United Nations

Many UN Speakers Condemn Russian Federation’s Dangerous Rhetoric, as Veiled Threats

The Russian Federation’s recent announcement of plans to station non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus represents the first “nuclear sharing” agreement made since the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entered into force in 1970, the senior United Nations disarmament official told the Security Council today, emphasizing that — against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict — the risk such arms will be used is higher today than at any time since the end of the cold war.

Read more at: https://www.un.org/en/

Ukraine: Russia moves nukes into Belarus

Russia advanced its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, signing a deal on Thursday to facilitate a special warhead establishment in the neighbouring nation. 

The plan to deploy nukes beyond Russia's boundaries was announced by President Vladimir Putin in a TV interview on March 25. 

Kremlin has not specified the exact date of deployment, yet expects the new facility to be ready in just over a month's time in Belarus. 

Moscow has not kept its nuclear weapons outside of the Russian borders since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

The Iskander-M missiles, with warheads carrying capabilities, have already been handed to the Belarusian armed forces, Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu said.

Read more at: https://www.euronews.com

Ukraine War: Putin says Russia will store tactical Nuclear weapons in Belarus

Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, according to TASS state news agency.

Putin said he reached an agreement with Belarusian president — and his closest regional ally — Alexander Lukashenko.

"We agreed with Lukashenko that we could place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus without violating the nonproliferation regime," Putin said, according to the TASS report.

Read more at: https//www.dw.com

Belarus' Claims recently made by the German chancellor Olaf Scholz have been rebuffed by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

While speaking to reporters at the premises of the Minsk Mechanical Plant, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that Belarus’ independence is unshakeable. This remark came in response to a comment made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, according to Belarusian publication belta.by.

Scholz had previously quoted Vladimir Putin as allegedly denying Belarus’ and Ukraine’s independence status. Lukashenko made it perfectly clear that he does not pay attention to such things, claiming that he had heard too much fake news already.

Read more at: Belarus' Aleksandr Lukashenko German chancellor Olaf Schol

GERMANY: Belarusian opposition figures win Charlemagne Prize

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Veronika Zepkalo and Maria Kolesnikova received the 2022 Charlemagne Prize. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the Belarusian activists were the "bravest women in Europe."

Read more at: Belarusian opposition figures win Charlemagne Prize | News | DW | 26.05.2022

Dangerous times: US fears arrival of Russian troops could lead to nuclear weapons in Belarus

The United States is worried that the arrival of Russian troops in Belarus for exercises could become a permanent presence that might lead to nuclear weapons into the country, a senior State Department official told reporters Tuesday.

Read more at: US fears arrival of Russian troops could lead to nuclear weapons in Belarus

Poland: Belarus crisis is ′greatest attempt to destabilize Europe′ since Cold War

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused Belarus on Sunday of seeking to destabilize the EU by orchestrating the migrant crisis unfolding at his country's border.

Morawiecki warned about the threat to the bloc as he prepared to meet with EU leaders later in the day.

"Today, on Poland's eastern border, we are dealing with a new type of war, a war in which migrants are weapons, in which disinformation is a weapon," Morawiecki said.

Read more at: Poland: Belarus crisis is ′greatest attempt to destabilize Europe′ since Cold War | News | DW | 21.11.2021

EU: Belarus: EU ′not intimidated′ by Lukashenko′s migrant threat

Lithuania has detained at least 131 migrants over the past 24 hours, mostly from Africa and the Middle East. The EU believes that Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko is behind the influx.

Lithuania, which shares a border with Belarus, has detained at least 131 migrants over the past 24 hours, with the majority of them coming from the Middle East and Africa.

"We will also also be in contact with other origin countries to see how ... to cooperate more with these countries to send the signal that it is not possible to come here using illegal tools and illegal instruments," Michel said.

Read more at: a href="https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-eu-not-intimidated-by-lukashenkos-migrant-threat/a-58177975">Belarus: EU ′not intimidated′ by Lukashenko′s migrant threat | News | DW | 06.07.2021

Belarus: It's time to bleed Belarus's economy, says former Lukashenko adviser - by Chris Brown

From his vantage next door in Poland, Anatol Kotau looks at his homeland, Belarus, and sees a country on the precipice of collapse.

The Belarusian government's decision to concoct a fake bomb threat and force a Ryanair jet to divert and land in order to arrest a foe of the regime has ignited global outrage. It has also further isolated President Alexander Lukashenko.

Even so, Kotau says the events of this tumultuous week make it no easier to predict when the end of Lukashenko's 27-year rule may come.

Read more at: It's time to bleed Belarus's economy, says former Lukashenko adviser | CBC News

Belarus: Russian authorities deny entry to European airlines as EU mulls sanctions on Belarus - by Tara John, Nadine Schmidt, Tim Lister and Chris Liakos

At least two European airlines have been refused permission to fly to Moscow by Russian authorities after the carriers requested to fly an alternative route bypassing Belarusian airspace. Russia's move, underlining Moscow's support for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's regime, comes as the European Union mulls fresh sanctions against Belarus following what leaders have described as the state-sanctioned hijacking of a passenger flight over Belarus last Sunday. Austrian Airlines canceled a scheduled flight from Vienna to Moscow on Thursday, saying in a statement: "A change in flight routes must be approved by the authorities. The Russian authorities did not give us this permit. As a result, Austrian Airlines had to cancel today's flight from Vienna to Moscow."

On Wednesday, Air France also canceled its flight to and from Moscow, citing similar reasons.

The EU has already applied a ban on Belarus-registered carriers flying to and from European airports and urged European airlines to avoid Belarus airspace. The Belarus national carrier Belavia has canceled flights to multiple destinations as a result of the EU's actions, which were introduced Monday.

Read more at: Belarus: Russian authorities deny entry to European airlines as EU mulls sanctions on Belarus - CNN

Belarus: Lukashenko is 'turning Belarus into the North Korea of Europe', says Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

The European Union's strategy against the administration of Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko hasn't worked, says the country's exiled opposition leader.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was speaking via video on Wednesday to the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, said that the bloc's approach has so far failed and called upon MEPs to increase the pressure on Minsk.

It comes after Belarus was thrust back into the spotlight when a Ryanair flight diverted to the Belarusian capital over the weekend.

Read more at: Lukashenko is 'turning Belarus into the North Korea of Europe', says Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya | Euronews

Belarus: Angela Merkel says Belarus′ story ′completely implausible′

Chancellor Merkel on Monday dismissed Minsk's explanation for having forced an airliner to land in Belarus and arresting a dissident on board.

"We have seen a forced landing that led to the arrest," Merkel said as she arrived at an EU summit where sanctions will be discussed. "All other explanations for the landing of this Ryanair flight are completely implausible."

Merkel's comments came after Germany joined a list of European countries to summons their Belarusian ambassadors, amid shock over Minsk's forced landing of a plane and subsequent arrest of a dissident journalist.

Read more at: Angela Merkel says Belarus′ story ′completely implausible′ | News | DW | 24.05.2021

Belarus- Eurovision: Eurovision bosses ‘pressured by politicians & haters on social media’ to disqualify entry from Belarus

Belarus’ state broadcaster says the people behind the Eurovision Song Contest bowed to anti-government activists and an online hate campaign by booting the country from the competition.

The contest’s organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), ruled earlier this month that the initial entry by Belarusian band Galasy ZMesta undermined “the non-political nature” of Eurovision and risked damaging the contest’s reputation.

The song ‘Ya nauchu tebya’ (I’ll Teach You) was widely seen as mocking the protesters who claim that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko rigged last year’s election to secure a sixth term in office, and are demanding his resignation. Several large-scale anti-government rallies have been held, some of which have ended in clashes with police. Lukashenko claims the protests were incited from abroad.<

Read more at: https://www.rt.com/russia/519391-belarus-eurovision-entry-scandal/

Belarus: EU blacklists Belarus interior minister and 39 others

EU states imposed asset-freezes and visa-bans on 40 Belarusians on Friday (2 October) after Cyprus, finally, dropped its veto.

The top name on the list was Belarusian interior minister Yuri Karaeu, whom the EU accused of orchestrating "arbitrary arrests and ill‐treatment, including torture, of peaceful demonstrators as well as intimidation and violence against journalists".

It designated 25 other security, police, and intelligence chiefs for similar reasons.

It also listed 14 officials responsible for "misconduct of the 2020 presidential electoral process, its non-compliance with basic international standards of fairness and transparency".

 Read more at: 
EUobserver

Belarus: European Parliament votes to reject Belarus election, paving way for possible sanctions

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko should no longer be recognized as president after November, when his term expires, the European Parliament said on Thursday, calling for European Union economic sanctions to be imposed on him. 

In an overwhelming show of support for pro-democracy protesters in Belarus, the EU assembly voted 574 to 37, with 82 abstentions, to reject the official results of an Aug. 9 presidential election that the West says was rigged.

"The EU needs a new approach towards Belarus, which includes the termination of any co-operation with Lukashenko's regime," said Petras Austrevicius, a Lithuanian centrist EU lawmaker heading parliament's efforts to pressure Belarus's top officials. While the European Parliament's vote is not legally binding, it carries political weight and can influence how the EU invests in Belarus or grants financial support. 

Read more at: 
European Parliament votes to reject Belarus election, paving way for possible sanctions | CBC News

Belarusus- EU relations: The EU Should Be Prepared to Defend the Independence of Belarus

With Belarus rapidly moving towards a post-Lukashenko era, the EU has no credible option but to support Belarusians’ bottom-up demands for democracy. This has geopolitical implications that the EU needs to be prepared to address. Russia is determined to maintain control over Belarus and likely to perceive the EU’s engagement as undesirable if not threatening.

The awakening of Belarusian civil society is surprising and impressive. Since the blatantly falsified presidential elections of 9 August, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have peacefully taken to the streets, demanding free elections and braving police brutality.

The EU has stated that it does not accept the falsified election outcome and started to prepare sanctions against “those responsible for violence, repression and the falsification of election results”.

It is also mobilizing support to Belarusian civil society and is ready to facilitate a negotiated way forward.

The EU is using the instruments that it has and responding by and large the way it has to, if values such as democracy and human rights are to have any place in its foreign policy. However, it needs to respond more seriously to the geopolitical implications of the Belarusian revolution.

The EU’s ability to influence the outcome is limited. As with any democratization process, domestic factors play the decisive role. Furthermore, the most influential external actor in Belarus is Russia, not the EU. And Russia’s view on the events in Belarus, and on the EU’s activity there, is bound to be different from the European one.

Read more: 
The EU Should Be Prepared to Defend the Independence of Belarus – ICDS

Montenegro is heading the same way as Belarus. Not enough is being done to avoid disaster - by Steven Kay

As the situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate, Europe may soon have another electoral crisis at its periphery. In Montenegro, decades of the same man’s rule and widespread discontent is likely soon to be the for electoral fraud. The tiny Western Balkan nation – currently waiting for EU membership to be besto

The West must brace for the expected if they are to prevent another Belarus. With Lukashenko, the strategy of waiting to see how things played out has gone awry. Weak statements immediately following the results allowed the former collective farm manager to believe his position was tenable. It emboldened him to crush opposition, rather than resign himself to the logic of the situation. His contempt for his people – who allegedly voted for him in vast numbers – was chilling. As he dressed himself in combat gear and gave instructions to his police to shoot, the exposure of the depth of his electoral fraud was complete.

Read more at: 
Montenegro is heading the same way as Belarus. Not enough is being done to avoid disaster ǀ View | Euronews

Belarus: How a women's revolution is testing Belarus dictator - by Oleg Sukhov

The largest mass protests in Belarus' history, unfolding right now, could be called a women's revolution.

Events, which have jeopardised dictator-president Alexander Lukashenko's 26-year rule, are being driven by three women, including presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

Female demonstrators played a crucial role in street protests.
And women with flowers helped pause police brutality.

The protests were triggered by a rigged election on 9 August, in which Lukashenko declared himself the landslide winner.

There is evidence his victory was faked.

And Tikhanovskaya's success - there are signs she won the vote - came as a surprise for the sexist leader.

His election commission, which had shut down all his other opponents, only registered her because Lukashenko did not think a woman posed a threat
.

But against all odds, the 37-year old Tikhanovskaya, the wife of a jailed opposition blogger, galvanised public mutiny.

"She was transformed from an ordinary woman into the symbol of the protest movement," Belarusian journalist Anna Baraban told EUobserver.

Read more at:
How a women's revolution is testing Belarus dictator

Belarus - Toppling the Lukashenko Dictatorship : activists jailed, country's supreme court rejects election appeal

Belarus jailed two opposition leaders for 10 days on Tuesday as the government pursued a crackdown on the few figures still at large, while schoolteachers led a new protest of thousands against President Alexander Lukashenko.

Despite most major opposition figures being in jail or exile, Lukashenko has so far failed to put down protests against his 26-year-old rule, more than two weeks after an election his opponents say was rigged.

Read more at:Belarus activists jailed, country's supreme court rejects election appeal | CBC News