Key Events: June 21-27

Top Stories

Jun 21: EU, US, UK, Canada join forces to slap sanctions on Belarus

The four have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 78 Belarus officials and 8 entities. A total of 166 people and 15 entities are now under EU restrictive measures. EU foreign ministers agreed to sanction key sectors of the Belarusian economy and major revenue sources for the regime: potash fertilizer exports, the tobacco industry, petroleum, and petrochemical products.

Jun 21: UN Senior Human Rights Advisor’s work suspended in Belarus

The Belarusian authorities suspended the work of the UN Senior Human Rights Advisor’s office in Minsk amid the deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus.

Jun 22: Targeted: The Lukashenka allies and kin hit with Western sanctions

Overview of individuals and entities sanctioned by the West with a detailed look at six of the “bigger names’’ on the EU’s blacklist. Top of the list are Russian and Belarusan businessmen Mikhail Gutseriyev and Alyaksey Aleksin, reported to have long-standing ties to Lukashenka. They are involved with the energy, potash, tobacco, real estate, finance and hospitality sectors with combined assets reportedly over $2 billion.

Jun 25: Jailed Belarus journalist, girlfriend moved to house arrest

Belarus’ Investigative Committee announced that dissident Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega are now under house arrest after cooperating with the investigators and accepting a pre-trial deal. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya acknowledged that their conditions had improved but urged the West to continue to exert pressure on Lukashenka.

Jun 25: FIDH launches website tracking systematic violations in Belarus

Over the last year, numerous participants in the democratic movement have faced widespread and systematic repression from Lukashenka’s long-standing authoritarian regime. FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) and its member organization in Belarus, Viasna Human Rights Center, provide detailed insight into the persisting human rights violations and repressions in Belarus.

Analysis

Jun 21: Sanctions threat pressures Russian and Belarus currencies, bonds

Belarus currency retreated from 10-month highs against the euro. Its dollar bonds sold off after the European Union announced it will impose economic sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes on Belarusian individuals and companies.

Jun 22: Belarus sanctions target dictator’s Russian enablers

Mikhail Gutseriyev, the largest foreign investor in Belarus, was named the target of a new round of sanctions this week against the Minsk regime. Other targets might include German Gref, Gutseriyev’s main political patron in the Russian elite, and Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovyev, Lukashenka’s biggest business partner in the global cartel of potash exports.

Jun 23: Why Putin dare not abandon Belarus dictator Lukashenka

Contrary to the expectation that Putin would agree to the replacement of Lukashenka to a “Kremlin-friendly replacement”, Putin has backed all of Lukashenka’s actions. Haunted by the destruction of the Soviet Union, Putin deems that the collapse of the Lukashenka regime would bring about the consequences for his own power. At the same time, Lukashenka realizes that his fate entirely depends on Russian support. Both rulers “are now locked in an authoritarian alliance”.

Jun 25: Most Belarus potash exports not affected by EU sanctions - analysts

Lithuanian Railways’ chairman said on Friday that sanctions against Belarus imposed on potash have so far only limited exports of the product to about 20% of total exports. Potash chloride, which makes up 40-62% of Belarus’s exports to the EU, is not covered by the declarations.

Belarus and Europe

Jun 22: Seven non-EU countries align themselves with Belarus flight sanctions

Seven non-aligned European states, countries in the Western Balkans: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway have agreed to ban Belarusian carriers from overflying their airspaces and from accessing their airports.

Repressions in Belarus

Jun 22: Prosecutor seeks stiff sentence for would-be Belarusian presidential candidate

Viktar Babaryka, a former banker and presidential candidate arrested in June 2020, has rejected bribe-taking and money laundering charges saying they are politically motivated. Babaryka is facing up to 15 years in prison. Seven co-defendants in the case face prison terms between three and six years.

Jun 24: Trial of Belarusian vlogger Tsikhanouski starts in Homel

Syarhey Tsikhanouski’s trial has started in a detention center in Homel, Belarus. He shares the stage with several other notorious defendants, among them former presidential candidate Mikalay Statkevich and popular blogger Ihar Losik. Among the others on trial are Uladzimer Tsyhanovich, Artsyom Sakau, and Dzmitry Papou. Tsikhanouski faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of the trumped-up charges.

Belarus and Russia

Jun 24: Russia to coordinate with Minsk measures needed for development of Belarus

As Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday, “Russia intends to closely coordinate with Belarus the measures necessary for the sustainable and sovereign development of our brotherly country.” According to Zakharova, Russia views sectoral sanctions as an attempt to directly interfere in Belarus’ internal affairs, which it considers unacceptable.

Inside Belarus

Jun 23: Lukashenka says Belarus will no longer ‘protect’ neighboring countries

Speaking at the city of Brest on the border with Poland, Lukashenka warned the European Union that in retaliation for the “hybrid war” on Belarus, the authorities will cease stopping immigrants from illegally passing into Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. The three countries are all members of the EU.

Jun 23: Belarus’s Lukashenko blasts ‘Nazi’ Germany after new Western sanctions

Lukashenka accused modern Germany of Nazism on the 80th anniversary of Hitler’s invasion of the USSR and a day after coordinated Western sanctions on “his” country. Speaking at a World War II commemoration event, the 66-year-old strongman said the sanctions were part of an ongoing Western “hybrid war” against Belarus.

Jun 25: Belarusian lawmakers approve first reading of bill likely to force delay of elections, referendum

The Belarusian parliament adopted a constitutional amendment introducing a single voting day for all elections. The second reading of the bill will be held when the parliament reconvenes in the fall. If the changes are enacted, the next municipal elections will be held in 2023 instead of late 2021 or early 2022.

Jun 25: Orthodox in Belarus condemn ousters of outspoken Archbishop

Following the dismissal of Archbishop Volodymyr Artemy of Grodno-Volkovysk, Orthodox Christians in Belarus have published a petition calling for Artemy’s reinstatement. Christian Vision, the country’s ecumenical organization, condemned the Archbishop’s removal as “violent” and called on Churches abroad to show solidarity.

Interesting read

In photos: What EU sanctions against Belarus look like

Radio Liberty offers a selection of photos depicting Belarusian companies and industries which are now prohibited from trading with EU countries: BelAZ, the potash industry, MAZ, cigarette products, petroleum products, and Belarusian airlines.

Letters from Minsk: the Stalin lines

Author Matthew Stevenson offers another Letter from Minsk in his series that describes his visit to the National Art Museum, the Great Patriotic War Museum, the Stalin Line, and the town of Zaslawye, “the Belarus equivalent of Williamsburg.”