Key Events: July 5-11

Top Stories

Jul 9: Belarus scales up crackdown on independents media

The country’s law enforcement agencies have raided offices of several media outlets and conducted more than 30 searches at the offices and journalists’ apartments in the past two days. The state declared the raids and following arrests a part of a broad operation against “radical-minded individuals”, who have consistently covered months of protests and repressions that followed. A total of 32 journalists are in custody, either serving their sentence or awaiting trial.

Jul 6: Former Belarusian presidential contender sentenced to 14 years in prison

Viktar Babaryka, a prominent contender in the 2020 Presidential election and a prisoner of conscience, was found guilty on corruption charges and received a 14-year sentence. Babaryka pleaded not guilty to all charges, saying he “can’t plead guilty to the charges I didn’t commit.” The US and the EU denounced the verdict as a sham.

Jul 8: Belarus blocks Nasha Niva newspaper that covered protests, detains editor

On July 8 the newspaper website was blocked at the request of the General Prosecutor, its offices were searched, and the editor was detained. The charge is: spread of information “on behalf of organizations that are not registered in Belarus”. Founded in 1991, Nasha Niva is one of Belarus’ oldest independent newspapers. This raid follows the earlier crackdown on the country’s largest non-state controlled online news site TUT.by.

Jul 9: Lithuania toughens Belarus border with razor wire to bar migrants

Overwhelmed by the influx of migrants illegally crossing from Belarus, Lithuania has begun construction of the razor wire barrier. Lithuanian officials consider the situation a deliberate attempt by Belarus to retaliate for the newly enacted EU sanctions. They point to the evidence suggesting that Belarus incentivizes migrants to enter Belarus with the final goal of crossing into the EU.

Analysis

Jul 6: The West gets serious with Lukashenka, but not serious enough

Over the last quarter century, the Belarusian dictatorship has mastered the skill of maneuvering between Russia and the West, while successfully extracting the maximum amount of the political dividend. Considering its prior experience with Lukashenka’s regime, the West should stay consistent with its sanctions approach. Unifying the approach between the EU and the United States to apply pressure on the regime is important to put Belarus on the road toward the democratic transformation.

Jul 7: The real meaning of Belarus’ kidnapping of American citizen

Youras Ziankovich, a lawyer with American citizenship, has spent more than two months in the Belarusian KGB jail. He was kidnapped in Russia under the bogus assassination attempt charges back in April and was transported to Belarus. US consulate officials are still being denied access to him.

Repressions in Belarus

Jul 7: Imprisoned Belarusian journalist Andrei Aliaksandrau charged with treason

Committee to Protect Journalists demands the immediate release of Andrei Aliaksandrau, founder and chief editor of Belaruski Zhurnal, an edition that primarily covers social and political issues. Having been held at the Valadarskaga detention center in Minsk since January 12, the journalist was charged with treason on June 30.

Jul 9: Danila Hancharou sentenced to two years in prison for six peaceful marches

Originally detained after an opposition flag was found in his apartment, Danila Hancharou was accused of grossly violating public order by peacefully marching through the capital of Minsk in protest against police torture. According to the judge, Hancharou’s actions led to “a work stoppage of public transport and business” which warranted the harsh sentence despite dubious evidence.

Jul 7: Three years in prison for “kicking policeman three times” at protest

24-year-old Pavel Larchyk was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for “assaulting” a police officer. The judge interpreted the altercation during which the officer fell on Larchyk as “having elements of political opposition” and took into consideration Larchyk’s history of political activism. In November last year a different person was also sentenced to three years for assaulting the same police officer.

Belarus and US

Jul 9: Tsikhanouskaya’s team prepares to visit US

Following a meeting with George Kent, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Belarusian opposition leader has announced a visit to the US “in the near future”. During the meeting the two officials discussed Belarus Democracy act of 2020 and ways in which it will help to affect Lukashenka. The meeting was the latest in a series of negotiations with top European Union and country officials in an effort to garner support for a democratic Belarus.

Jul 6: US finalizes Belarus air travel restrictions after aircraft diversion

The US Transportation Department finalized an order on Tuesday banning ticket sales for air travel between the United States and Belarus, acting after Minsk hijacked a Ryanair flight and arrested a dissident journalist who was aboard. The order is mostly symbolic, since relatively few tickets are purchased for travel to Belarus from US-based travel services.

Belarus and Europe

Jul 7: Lithuania expels Belarusian diplomats from Vilnius in tit-for-tat move

Lithuania’s foreign ministry has ordered the Belarusian embassy in Vilnius to cut its diplomatic staff to one in response to a similar action by the Lukashenka government earlier this week. Same day, the head of mission at the Lithuanian embassy in Minsk and the consul general based in Hrodna, two top Lithuanian diplomats, were expelled from Belarus.

Jul 6: Belarus dictator threatens to halt transit of EU goods via his country to east

In retaliation against the EU sanctions, Lukashenka threatened to ban the import and transit of European goods. He did not specify when the ban may come into effect and which countries, besides Germany, will be affected.

Jul 8: Belarus sees little impact on debt from EU sanctions, to rely on Russia and Asia

The sanctions, imposed on Belarus by the EU last month in response to the country’s act of air piracy, will not have the desired effect. The regime of Lukashenka had no plans to raise Eurobonds this year and is currently looking to borrow funds from Russia as well as refinance its debt with funds from Asian markets. The EU sanctions did not include key industries such as potash export, which are the main source of hard currency for Lukashenka.

Jul 9: Ukraine to sanction top Belarus security officials, Lukashenka’s son

Ukraine’s government unveiled its proposal to introduce personal sanctions against 52 Belarusian officials, including Lukashenka’s son Viktar. The proposal awaits approval from President Zelenskiy’s security and defense council.

Inside Belarus

Jul 5: Belarusian president warns against singing of decades-old hymn

Police raided Minsk Catholic Cathedral after the Church defied Lukashenka’s warning not to sing the popular religious hymn “Almighty God’’ during masses. The hymn, written in 1943 and performed in churches across the country for decades, became a symbol for the protests that started last August.

Jul 9: Belarus draws attention to high-profile violations of human rights in Western countries

Imitating Putin’s attacks on the US Human Rights record, Belarus used the 47th session of UNHRC to present a report detailing human rights violations in Western countries. The document, prepared in coordination with Venezuela, China and Russia, urges the Western countries “to take care of their domestic problems first in this field instead of accusing other countries”.

Jul 7: Belarus strongman condemned by Israel for saying world “bows” to jews over Holocaust

Belarus’ strongman Lukashenka has been rebuked by Israel for claiming that the world bows to Jews because of sensitivity related to the Holocaust. Several instances of antisemitism have been cited against the Belarusian president in the past.