Belarus holds tightly-controlled elections following arrests of opposition figures

Belarusians are headed to the polls for tightly-controlled parliamentary elections. They're expected to result in a another big win for parties loyal to longtime-leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Former Belarus 'hit squad' member on trial for disappearances

Twenty-four years after three prominent opposition figures vanished in Belarus, a former member of the country's special forces has gone on trial in a Swiss court. Yury Garavsky is charged with the forced disappearance of the three men.

 

How Russia could cut NATO off from the Baltic states | DW News

 

The Suwalki gap is a narrow strip of land stretching between Poland and Lithuania. If Russia and Belarus were to successfully invade and close it, the Baltic NATO-trio of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia would be cut off from its allies to the south.

Why would the Wagner mercenaries be leaving Belarus just weeks after arriving?

 

According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Wagner mercenaries in Belarus are returning to Russia just weeks after arriving. Reports suggest that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has refused to finance the Russian private army, which has been allowed to operate in Belarus after its short-lived uprising against the Kremlin.

Poland’s PM: Wagner's presence in Belarus a growing threat to Poland and NATO

Poland's military is redeploying more units closer to its border with Belarus. That's after reports of Russia's Wagner mercenary group training Belarusian soldiers in the area. People in Poland near the border said they could hear shooting and helicopters. Warsaw had already sent additional forces to boost security at the border with Belarus earlier month.

 

Putin claims without evidence that Poland is seeking to invade Belarus

Vladimir Putin has said Russia will use 'all means at its disposal' to defend Belarus after claiming without evidence that Poland was seeking to invade the Russian ally. Poland and other EU countries have expressed concern over training sessions held by the Wagner group for Belarusian troops in western Belarus, near the border with Poland. On Friday, Poland’s security committee said it would move troops toward the east in response to the deployment of the Russian paramilitaries near their border. Speaking during a Kremlin security council meeting on Friday, the Russian president said Poland was 'dreaming of Belarusian lands' and 'unleashing aggression against Belarus would mean aggression against the Russian Federation'.

Russian nukes in Belarus: What risk do they pose? | DW News

Russia is believed to be finalizing its transfer of nuclear weapons to its neighbor and close ally, Belarus. The country's leader, Alexander Lukashenko, recently walked back remarks that he wouldn't hesitate to use the nuclear weapons if necessary, saying he was confident there would never be a need. The mixed message is little comfort to Belarus's neighbors.  

Where is Yevgeny Prigozhin?

 

Belarus's leader, Alexander Lukashenko, says Prigozhin is in Russia - and not in Belarus as he's previously claimed. The Wagner boss hasn't been seen in public since last month's failed rebellion, when he marched an armed column of troops on Moscow. The Kremlin says it is not following his movements.

Putin confirms transfer of nuclear warheads to Belarus

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has announced the arrival of the first nuclear warheads in Belarus, and said that more would follow. Speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin said the move was meant as a deterrent to "those who are thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia." But he remained unclear about his willingness to use them.

Ukraine war: Putin confirms first nuclear weapons moved to Belarus - BBC News

Russia has already stationed a first batch of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Vladimir Putin says. Speaking at an economic forum, he said they would only be used if Russia's territory or state was threatened. The US government says there is no indication the Kremlin plans to use nuclear weapons to attack Ukraine.

Belarus' government-in-exile - Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

 

From homemaker to presidential candidate, in Belarus. In this documentary, Turkish journalist Can Dündar meets Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a woman who unexpectedly finds herself fighting for her country’s freedom, from exile.

What role will Belarus play in Russia's next military offensive?

 

The Belarusian Defence Ministry on Tuesday announced the start of week-long training of their joint military grouping with Russia. According to a ministry statement the training is part of preparation for joint military drills the allies will hold in Russia in September. Moscow used the country as a staging point for the invasion of northern Ukraine.

Russia, Belarus expand joint drills: What does it mean for Ukraine? | DW News

 

Belarus and Russia are to conduct joint military air drills on Monday in what Ukraine fears could lead to an escalation of the invasion. The two countries have previously conducted joint ground training. Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that Russia may launch another ground offensive from Belarus

'All they can expect here is death': Ukraine prepares for another attack from Belarus • FRANCE 24

 

For weeks, Russia’s defence ministry has released footage of its forces on manoeuvres in Belarus, just across the border from Ukraine - this as increasing numbers arrive on the territory of the Kremlin ally, presenting a renewed threat to Ukraine from the north.

Putin meets Lukashenko amid fears Moscow wants to pressure Minsk to join a new offensive

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Belarus for the first time since 2019. He described talks with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko as "very fruitful" and said that he believes both Moscow and Minsk are succeeding at withstanding the pressure of Western sanctions.

What is Belarus' Role in the War in Ukraine?

Belarus borders both Russia, Ukraine, and several NATO countries. When Russia invaded Ukraine, it used Belarussian railways to move its troops, Belarussian batteries to over the border, and its terrain to punch south towards Kyiv. 

The Battle for Belarus

 

After a brutal state crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Belarus, neighbouring countries are now being drawn in.

Thousands of migrants and refugees are stranded in freezing winter conditions on the border between Belarus and the European Union.

It is a developing humanitarian emergency that neighbouring countries say has been deliberately engineered by Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, in response to EU sanctions.

But to many of his battle-weary political opponents, whether at home or in exile, the president’s latest departure from international norms is just another example of his cavalier attitude to human rights.

EU imposes new sanctions on Belarus as migrant crisis escalates

 

The European Union is to impose more sanctions on Belarus, aimed at everyone involved in facilitating the transport of people to the country's border with Poland.

Turkey stops flying citizens of Iraq, Syria, Yemen to Belarus

 

Belarus-Poland border row escalates

 

Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to cut off gas supplies to Europe if sanctions are imposed over the worsening migrant crisis at the country's border with Poland.