Confusion surrounded the whereabouts of a ‘kidnapped’ Belarus opposition leader today after border guards claimed she was arrested while trying to reach Ukraine. Maria Kolesnikova was stopped at the Aleksandrovka border crossing in the early hours of this morning, Belarus claims, in what authorities called an ‘illegal’ attempt to flee the country. Border police made the … Read more
Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that his security forces had intercepted German calls showing that Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny’s poisoning had been faked. Lukashenko told visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Minsk on Thursday that the call between Berlin and Warsaw showed that the incident was a ‘falsification’. ‘There was no poisoning of … Read more
Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that his security forces had intercepted German calls showing that Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny’s poisoning had been faked. Lukashenko told visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Minsk on Thursday that the call between Berlin and Warsaw showed that the incident was a ‘falsification’. ‘There was no poisoning of … Read more
Tens of thousands of people gathered in the capital of Belarus on Sunday, beginning a fourth week of daily protests demanding the resignation of the country’s authoritarian president after an election they call rigged gave him a sixth term in office. The protest at the ‘hero city’ monument honouring Minsk’s suffering and resilience during the … Read more
Vladimir Putin forms elite ‘spec ops force’ to intervene in Belarus if protests ‘get out of control’ Vladimir Putin said is he will intervene in Belarus if protests ‘get out of control’ He confirmed Russia has created a reserve police force to send to the country Added that move would honour joint defence pact Russia … Read more
Belarus today jailed two prominent activists for ten days as the country’s exiled opposition leader declared a ‘peaceful revolution’ is underway. Olga Kovalkova and Siarhei Dyleuski were brought before separate courts and jailed as protests continued against the 26-year rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. Kolvakova is the main representative still in Belarus of opposition candidate … Read more
The authorities in Belarus arrested two leading opposition figures on Monday and called a Nobel laureate in for questioning, a day after thousands of people defied the army to march demanding the downfall of president Alexander Lukashenko. Two weeks after an election which his opponents say he rigged, Lukashenko has shown little sign of bringing … Read more
The authoritarian president of Belarus made a dramatic show of defiance Sunday against the massive protests demanding his resignation, grabbing an assault rifle and declaring: ‘They’ve run away like rats!’ President Lukashenko wore a bulletproof vest as he strode off a helicopter that landed at his residence while demonstrators massed nearby. It comes as tens … Read more
The EU today announced sanctions for high-ranking officials responsible for the brutal crackdown in Belarus and rejected Alexander Lukashenko’s election victory. European Council President Charles Michel said that the August 9 election – which saw 80 percent support for the strongman leader – was ‘neither free nor fair’ and that the EU does not recognise … Read more
Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko’s regime could fall within two weeks, a presidential hopeful has predicted. Valery Tsepkalo was barred from running against Lukashenko so his wife, Veronika, took up the mantle along with two other women – including leading figure Svetlana Tikhanouskaya. Speaking from Moscow last night, Mr Tsepkalo told Sky News that ‘nobody believes [Lukashenko] anymore.’ … Read more