Key Events: April 19-25
Top Story
Lukashenko to amend emergency transfer of presidential power
The Belarusian dictator is changing the procedure of the power transfer in case the president is unable to perform their duties. Under current law, the presidential power transfers to the prime minister. By the new decree, Lukashenka promised to sign the presidential powers would be transferred to the Security Council. The new head of the Security Council is Aliaksandr Valfovich, a military general. Lukashenka’s son is a member of the Council as well.
Putin raised alleged Belarus coup plot during call with Biden
In the phone conversation with President Biden, Russian President Putin accused his American counterpart of interference in the affairs of the Eastern European countries and alleged the involvement of the US in the preparation of a military coup against Lukashenka. Both the US and Poland were mentioned as conspirators, but denied any involvement.
Belarus and US
The United States prematurely terminated Belarus General License 2G amid the serious deterioration of the situation with human rights in Belarus. The license, enacted in 2015, allowed several major Belarusian state-owned enterprises to conduct business with American companies. A 45-day wind-down period has been initiated that is to commence on June 3rd.
Apr 20: Belarus decries sanctions US reimposed on 9 state companies
Belarus foreign ministry blamed the US for attempting to impoverish Belarusian people through sanctions and destabilize the situation in the region. It also threatened an “asymmetrical response” to sanctions.
Belarus and Russia
Apr 21: Bizarre Belarus “coup plot” has all the hallmarks of a classic Kremlin drama
Lukashenka’s claim that he was the target of a US-backed coup might look like a conspiratorial rant. However, his statements must be considered in the context of the arrest of the Belarusian individuals accused in the preparation of the military coup and the visit of Lukashenka in Moscow for the talks with Putin. These events look like a part of the Russian operation to push Belarus into deeper integration with Russia.
Apr 22: In Moscow talks, Putin and Lukashenka praise progress on Union State
During their meeting in Moscow, Putin and Lukashenka commended the process of the political, economic, and security unification of Belarus and Russia. There were no major announcements after the meeting. However, before the meeting, Lukashenka was hinting at possible concessions to Russia in return for the continuing support against the Belarusian protest movement.
Apr 22: Opposition fears sellout as Belarus leader holds talks with Putin
The Belarusian opposition projects fear that the sovereignty of Belarus is under threat. Under pressure from the protest movement, Lukashenka might agree to establish Russian military bases in Belarus or abandon the national currency for the Russian ruble.
Inside Belarus
Apr 21: Belarusian regime’s thugs shut down Imaguru, the country’s key startup hub
The Belarusian authorities shut down the key technology start-up hub Imaguru in retaliation for its support of the pro-democracy movement. The company was visited by the unnamed masked intruders and its lease was canceled. The company said it would continue to operate online.
The number of Belarusian asylum seekers has increased sharply in Europe since last year’s fraudulent presidential elections, the rise of the protest movement, and the violent anti-protest repressions. The article presents the stories of people forced to leave Belarus and shows the asylum seekers’ statistics by country.
Ever since the widely disputed elections in which the Belarusian dictator claimed a landslide victory, the people of Belarus have been observing their state to be taking a sharp turn toward totalitarianism. Tens of thousands of people have been arrested sometimes for simply wearing the articles of closing or waving a bouquet that resembles the colors of the white-red-white national flag, handed draconian fines, and prison sentences. Three hundred twenty-one people have been officially designated a political prisoner status by human rights organizations.
Apr 22: In Belarus, firing of Jewish museum curator linked to anti-government protests
The Belarusian Ministry of Culture fired Tamara Vershitskaya, the head of the Museum of Jewish Resistance, and her assistant. She believes they were fired for their acts of resistance to the dictatorial rule of Lukashenka. Tamara Vershitskaya founded the museum in 2007 in Novogrudok, not far from the Bielski partisans’ forest base popularized in the 2008 film “Defiance.”
Apr 22: Amnesty International: Release minor pending appeal of five-year prison sentence
Amnesty International demands the immediate release of Mikita Zalatarou, a 17-year-old Belarusian protester. Mikita, a minor, was arrested and beaten with an electric shock baton. He has been in detention for six months and is currently held in solitary confinement, which amounts to torture.
Apr 22: Belarus jailing of journalists for reporting on peaceful protest violates international law
As the Lukasheka’s puppet parliament considers a new law banning any reporting from the protest events, the Clooney Foundation for Justice organization filed an amicus brief demanding prison sentences to be overturned for the two journalists jailed for their reporting during the protest following the murder of a man by the Lukashenka’s security forces. According to the filing, the rights of the journalist Ekaterina Andreeva and her colleague, Daria Chultsova were violated according to international law.
Additional Reading
Slavalachia: The new music tradition uniting across an ocean, a pandemic and revolution
Slavachia, a new band that fuses together Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Appalachian folk music, formed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Will Belarus merge with Russia this week?
Following the speculations on Lukashenka’s comment to announce the most important decision of his past presidency, many Belarusians are afraid of possible integration to Russia and loss of sovereignty.