Belarus
Valery Tsepkalo out of the Belarusian presidential race, six candidates left in
Valery Tsepkalo, one of the three leading opposition candidates that want to run against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in the August 9 presidential elections, has been excluded from the race. The other two are in jail.
COVID-19 second wave strikes parts of emerging Europe
WHO warns of a “very serious resurgence” that risks pushing healthcare systems “to the brink” in 10 countries from the region after lockdowns were eased.
Belarus’ election commissions rejecting opposition candidates' signatures, investigations launched into Tsepkalo
It has been dubbed “the signature revolution” but the hundreds of thousands of signatures Belarus’ opposition figures have gathered that are part of the application process to stand in the presidential elections have been rejected
Demonstrations throughout Europe to support Belarusian protests, Amnesty International slams Lukashenko’s “purge”
Demonstrations were held outside Belarusian embassies across Europe over the weekend in a show of solidarity for protests against the jailing of opposition leaders in Minsk, characterised as a “full-scale purge” by Amnesty International.
Belarusian government on the hunt for foreign investors to modernise the Minsk Tractor Factory
The Belarusian government is on the hunt for foreign investors to modernise the Minsk Tractor Factory (MTZ), one of the biggest in the world.
Belarusian celebrities speak out against the government as Lukashenko's problems mount up
Belarus’ famous actors and artists added to the popular calls for the authorities to release several leading opposition candidates for president that have been arrested in the last week.
Fresh water system in Minsk collapses
Water in Minsk is contaminated, causing long queues for fresh water that is trucked into the city.
Shoppers in Belarus get access to New Zealand's coronavirus tracking app
As businesses re-open their doors across Belarus, they have help from a contact-tracing app based on New Zealand’s successful coronavirus (COVID-19) Tracer app, Kontakkt Space, it was announced in a press release on June 24.
Lawyers for arrested Belarusian opposition leader Babariko claim arrest was unlawful, as arrests continue across the country
The lawyers of ex-banker and leading opposition candidate Viktor Babariko, who was arrested last week, were in court on June 24 to complain about the detention of their client, which they claim was unlawful.
Belarusians are striking back with satire at the repressive random arrests of pedestrians.
Fresh outrage followed after the police swooped on a line of shoppers queuing to get into the Symbal souvenir shop, randomly arresting people who were simply queuing up to get into the store. Now the police have become the butt of shopping jokes.
Belarus authorities accuse opposition leader Babariko of $430mn worth of money laundering
The head of Belarus' State Control Committee, Ivan Tertel, released details of charges against ex-banker and leading opposition candidate Viktor Babariko, who was arrested last week, sparking country-wide protests.
COMMENT: Lukashenko’s penultimate elections
President Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarus has long been a success story in the post-Soviet world, but now he is in trouble facing country-wide protests. He will probably win the August elections, but how long can he hang on to power?
Belarus human rights watchdogs declare Lukashenko's rival political prisoner
A group of Belarusian human rights watchdogs have declared detained opposition candidate for president Viktor Babariko, an outspoken critic of Belarusian authoritarian President Alexandr Lukashenko, a political prisoner.
Dozens briefly detained in Belarus amid election protests
Around 150 protesters and journalists were briefly detained in Minsk and several dozen opposition activists in other Belarusian cities in the evening of June 19 during spontaneous street protests against authoritarian President Lukashenko
Western nations step up pressure on Belarus amid election crackdown
The embassies of United States and United Kingdom in Minsk have slammed the Belarusian authorities for the June 19 crackdown on protesters, while the European Union has urged Minsk to release recently detained ex-banker Viktor Babariko
Protests, arrests and a suicide attempt in Minsk as Lukashenko cracks down on the opposition
The opposition to Alexander Lukashenko's attempt to railroad his re-election as president in August escalated dramatically in the last 24 hours as spontaneous clapping and honking protests expanded across the country.
Illicit cigarette consumption declines in eastern EU states
KPMG report says fewer contraband cigarettes flowing into the EU, but growth in illegal factories within the bloc.
Thousands of protesters form line in Minsk as Belarus law enforcers detain Lukashenko's main rival
Thousands of anti-government protesters spontaneously formed a line around four-five km long in central Minsk in the evening on June 18 following the detention by Belarusian law enforcers of Viktor Babariko, an outspoken critic of the President.
LONG READ: Construction work on Belarus’ Ostrovets nuclear power station almost complete, but is it safe?
Construction work at Belarus’ Ostrovets NPP is coming to an end and it is expected to come online in July. But the facility remains a bone of contention with its neighbours, who simply don't trust the Belarusians to run a nuclear facility
Belarus law enforcers detain Lukashenko's main rival amid heated election campaign
Viktor Babariko, fierce critic of President Alexandr Lukashenko, and his son have been detained by law enforcers