Yuras Karmanau

Belarusian authorities have detained over 100 relatives of political prisoners in a new wave of arrests ahead of January’s election in which authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term.

Human rights activists say imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after more than 20 months without any communication from her, and has met with her father.

An independent journalist in Belarus has been arrested on treason charges, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on news media by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’s government.

The last time any of Maria Kolesnikova’s family had contact with the imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist was more than 18 months ago.

Belarusian human rights activists have accused the authorities of pressuring political prisoners pardoned by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 37 people serving prison sentences for what his office described as "extremist” crimes.

Belarusians are experiencing a new wave of Russification as Moscow expands its economic, political and cultural dominance to overtake the identity of its neighbor.

More than a half-million Belarusians have fled their country since 2020 as the authoritarian government cracked down its critics.

Belarus’ authoritarian leader has granted pardon to a German citizen who has been sentenced to death on terrorism charges.

For three decades, European leaders have come and gone, but Alexander Lukashenko remains in absolute control of Belarus.