U.S. President Barack Obama has extended sanctions on Belarus for what he said are the Minsk government’s continued actions and policies to undermine the development of democratic governance in the country. In a letter Thursday to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Obama said the government of Belarus in 2011 continued its […]
Belarus Frees High-Profile Opposition Activists
Posted April 15th, 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
Belarus has released a former presidential candidate and his campaign manager from prison, following crippling economic sanctions from Western nations slapped on the Minsk government for widespread human rights abuses. Andrei Sannikov, who challenged authoritarian incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko in 2010 elections, was released late Saturday. His campaign manager Dmitry Bondarenko was freed Sunday. Sannikov […]
Belarusian Opposition Holds Protest Rally
Posted March 25th, 2012 at 5:25 pm (UTC-5)
Thousands of opposition supporters and activists gathered Sunday in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, to mark the 94th anniversary of the country’s short-lived independence from Russia in 1918. The rally was the largest since authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko won his fourth term in office in December 2010 and intensified his crackdown on the opposition. The opposition […]
EU Slaps New Sanctions on Belarus
Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 3:00 pm (UTC-5)
The European Union has imposed new sanctions on Belarus in an effort to persuade the authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko to free political prisoners. Foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc agreed Friday to freeze the assets and extend an EU travel ban on 12 more Belarusian nationals. They also banned 29 Belarusian companies from […]
Belarus Executes Two Men Convicted in Metro Bombing
Posted March 17th, 2012 at 5:40 pm (UTC-5)
Belarus has executed two men convicted for a fatal 2011 metro bomb attack, despite protests from European human rights groups and calls for a re-trial. Belarussian news media reported Saturday that Vladislav Kovalyov and Dmitry Konovalov, both 25, had been executed. Kovalyov and Konovalov were convicted in November of staging a bomb attack in a […]
Belarus Says EU Move Will Escalate Tensions
Posted February 29th, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
Belarus has criticized a decision by European Union members to pull their ambassadors from the country, saying the move escalates tensions. The Belarusian foreign ministry said Wednesday that the move is unproductive and cautioned that what it called scare tactics will not soften its stance. European Union members decided Tuesday to withdraw their ambassadors after […]
EU Pulls Ambassadors Out of Belarus
Posted February 28th, 2012 at 9:45 pm (UTC-5)
European Union members are pulling all their ambassadors from Belarus after its the authoritarian government ordered the Polish and EU ambassadors out of the country. Belarus ordered the envoys to leave in reaction to new EU sanctions imposed against Belarusian officials because of that country’s poor human rights record. A Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman says […]
EU Pulls Ambassadors Out of Belarus
Posted February 28th, 2012 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
European Union members are pulling all their ambassadors from Belarus after its the authoritarian government ordered the Polish and EU ambassadors out of the country. Belarus ordered the envoys to leave in reaction to new EU sanctions imposed against Belarusian officials because of that country’s poor human rights record. A Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman says […]
OSCE Chief Calls for Return Presence in Belarus
Posted February 8th, 2012 at 2:45 pm (UTC-5)
The new Irish head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is calling for the reinstatement of an OSCE presence in Belarus, where he says the “continuing erosion of human rights” is cause for concern. Ireland’s deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister, Eamon Gilmore, spoke Wednesday in Washington before the U.S. Helsinki […]
Belarus to Implement New Curbs on Internet Use
Posted January 4th, 2012 at 2:30 pm (UTC-5)
Belarus is set to impose tough new restrictions on Internet use starting on Friday. A new law that goes into effect January 6 will allow authorities to impose fines on Internet service providers, cybercafes and individual users if Internet surfers visit foreign websites or conduct online business with clients outside Belarus. Fines up to about […]
