Key Events: June 14-20

Top Stories

Jun 14: Opposition says jailed Belarusian blogger paraded as ’trophy’ in latest public appearance

Several news agencies left the press conference after jailed Belarusian journalist Roman Pratasevich joined the four uniformed officials there. Even though Pratasivech denied any wrongdoing by the state authorities after the plane carrying him was forced to land in Minsk, most of the opposition figures called his admissions coerced. “No matter what he says, let’s not forget: he is a hostage. And the regime is using him as a trophy,” Franak Viacorka, a senior adviser to the exiled Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, wrote on Twitter.

Jun 14: At NATO, Lithuania says Russia trying to ‘swallow’ Belarus

Speaking at the summit, Lithuania warned the NATO partners of the danger Russia could present to the alliance should the Kremlin decide to apprehend Belarus. Lithuania called on the NATO members to send a clear and decisive message of the alliance unity.

Jun 15: Belarus opposition leader calls for more sanctions on Lukashenka regime

Speaking to the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on June 15, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the international community to impose sanctions on business leaders and oligarchs supporting Lukashenka’s regime and on state-owned oil, steel, and wood companies. The sanctions must force the release of all political prisoners, end of violence, and new elections.

Jun 15: Belarus “pressured hijacked Ryanair captain to say Minsk landing was voluntary”

Speaking to the British parliamentary committee, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary provided evidence of the pressure put on the Ryanair pilot to land in Minsk. Following the forced landing in Belarus, “unidentified individuals” with video cameras boarded the plane and tried to coerce the pilot into admitting that he landed in Minsk voluntarily. The crew declined the request.

Jun 16: Belarusian widow ordered to pay taxes on donations received after police killed her husband

Alyaksandr Taraykouski became one of the first casualties of police brutality during the peaceful protests following the presidential elections last August. Alyaksandr Taraykouski’s death triggered the wave of compassion from people all over the world. Alena Herman, the widowed mother of a 4-year-old girl, received a lot of donations, but she is now being ordered to pay back over $4000 in taxes.

Belarus and US

Jun 17: Putin’s spokesman: It is impossible to bring in line US, Russia stands on Belarus

Putin’s press-secretary, Peskov, commented on the different viewpoints of Biden and Putin concerning the situation in Belarus after their meeting in Switzerland. Peskov said that Putin acknowledges the American viewpoint on the Belarusian issue but trusts the Belarusian president.

Jun 18: Belarusian Foreign Ministry meets with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires

In his meeting with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, the U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Belarus Ruben Harutyunyan demanded respect for fundamental human rights in Belarus. Also, Ruben Harutyunyan objected to the forced reduction in the U.S. diplomatic presence in Belarus.

Belarus and Europe

Jun 14: German Bank refuses €100 million loan to Belarus

KfW Bank has annulled a €100 million loan for Belarus. The loan was to be spent on the purchase of Siemens gas turbines.

Jun 18: EU reaches deal on Belarus economic sanctions, according to Austria, diplomats

The EU has reached an agreement on economic sanctions against Belarus designed to impact Lukashenka’s regime. The sanctions include a ban on financial loans and services, an embargo on communication equipment, an arms embargo, and a ban on potash, oil, and tobacco products. Initially blocking the sanctions due to the deep ties between the Austrian and Belarusian banking systems, Austria has supported the agreement.

Repressions in Belarus

Jun 17: Watchdog says Belarus health workers pay ‘heavy price’ for political crisis

Belarusian doctors have exposed the state’s attempts to downplay the protesters’ injuries and bloodshed caused by a violent crackdown. As a result, health workers in Belarus face retribution from the state for their active civil position; many are fired, barred from medical employment, and arrested.

Jun 18: Interior Ministry pushes for recognising popular media outlet TUT.BY’s content as ‘extremist’

The Belarusian officials consider the activity of the largest independent media company TUT.BY as harming national interests and seeking to bar access to its content on social media. If the TUT.BY materials are recognized as extremists, the sharing of the links to the content may be prosecuted. The ruling will create a comic situation: referencing Lukashenka’s interview published earlier on TUT.BY may result in criminal charges.

Jun 18: Human rights defenders: Over 500 political prisoners in Belarus. Five new names on list

On June 18, the Belarusian Human Rights community recognized five more people as political prisoners. Thus the number of political prisoners reached 501 in Belarus.

Belarus and Russia

Jun 15: Russia reportedly removes Belarusian opposition leader from wanted list

The Russian police have taken the Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya off their wanted list. RIA Novosti, Russia’s news agency, released the report on June 15, the day before US President Biden and Putin meeting in Geneva.

Jun 16: Tensions mount between Belarus dictator and Kremlin

The Belarusian operation of the forced Ryanair Flight landing in Minsk might have caused a rift between Lukashenka and the Kremlin. Lukashenka’s recent accusations against Dmitry Mazepin, the Belarusian-born Russian tycoon, indicate that Lukashenka feels threatened by Russia. According to Brian Whitmore, the forced Ryanair flight landing “has all the hallmarks of a classic reflexive control operation to make Lukashenka as toxic as possible.”

Inside Belarus

Jun 14: Punitive psychiatry on agenda in Belarus again. How it was used by tzar, Nazis and communists

Belarusian prisoner Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk accused the regime of practicing punitive psychiatry. Like Russian tzars, Nazis, and the Soviet Union, the Belarusian officials use compulsory psychiatric treatment to retaliate against speaking out against the regime.

Jun 17: Belarus State TV reports on diversifying relations with Asian region, Africa and Middle East countries

In compliance with the direct instructions from Lukashenka, the Belarusian officials are seeking the development of economic cooperation with the countries of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The House of Representatives will consider the bill on ratifying the legal framework of the agreement between Belarus and the OPEC fund for international development, signed in February 2021. The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) is coming up with a list of projects that might boost cooperation with Turkey. Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs with Ambassador of China to Belarus to discuss aspects of Belarus-China interaction in international organizations. In an effort to diversify the timber trade the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange has been holding special trade sessions to sell timber to China since December 2020.

Interesting Read:

5 views from Belarus on the country’s political crisis

Five Belarusians from different walks of life are interviewed in a 5-minute program on NPR’s Morning Edition about the Belarus’ political crisis: a retired music teacher, a student, a trucking company owner, an unemployed electrical engineer, and a graphic designer.

Belarus plane: What we know and what we don’t

The BBC News special offers a comprehensive look at the Belarus Ryanair incident. Was there a bomb threat?––The answer is no. Did the KGB agents travel on board?––According to Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, yes. Was Raman Pratasevich actively involved in military combat in the Donbas region in 2015?––Unverified

It’s Belarus, not White Russia: Why rebranding a country starts with its name

In several European language families, principally Germanic, Baltic, and Uralic, Belarus is translated as White Russia. To avoid further association with Russia, Belarus must be renamed. The Danish, Swedish, and German governments have already done so.