Belarus

Belarus frees two Catholic priests serving long jail terms after visit by Pope Leo’s envoy

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has freed two Roman Catholic priests convicted of "serious crimes against the state" following diplomatic contacts with the Vatican, state news agency Belta reported on Thursday.…

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Belarus security chief seeks dialogue with Ukraine

The head of Belarus's security agency said his institution was trying to build contacts with Ukraine to help achieve a settlement of its more than 3-1/2-year-old war with Russia, the…

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Belarus makes overture to EU countries after rapprochement with US

A senior Belarusian diplomat has recently met with European representatives following Minsk’s decision to issue diplomatic invitations last month, a move seen by European diplomats as an attempt to ease…

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Moscow and Minsk rehearse launch of nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus

Russia and Belarus are rehearsing the launch of Russian tactical nuclear weapons as part of joint war games, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday. State media quoted the Belarusian…

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Belarus releases 52 prisoners, US embassy in Lithuania says

Belarus has freed 52 prisoners of various nationalities and they are now on their way to Lithuania with the U.S. delegation that negotiated their release, a spokesperson for the U.S.…

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European operation identifies alleged Belarusian spy ring

A joint operation between several central European countries has identified an alleged Belarusian spy ring that reportedly included a former deputy head of Moldovan intelligence. A statement from Eurojust, the…

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Belarus says it is looking at how to arm its missile systems with nuclear warheads

Belarus is assessing how best to ramp up domestic production of missiles, including exploring how to equip its Polonez rocket launcher systems with nuclear warheads, a senior Belarusian security official…

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Veteran Belarus leader Lukashenko signals this may be his final term

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview published in the weekend that he did not intend to seek another term, and denied he was lining up his son as…

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Belarusian opposition leader calls for Trump to ‘punish’ dictator Lukashenko

Belarus unexpectedly released the imprisoned husband of opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya last month, but she continues to call on U.S. President Donald Trump to keep up pressure on the country’s…

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Belarusian leader Lukashenko frees 16 people in new batch of pardons

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 16 people convicted of various crimes, including "extremism", ahead of the country's independence day, state media reported on Wednesday. Human rights groups and the…

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Belarus leader praises Trump’s handling of Ukraine crisis

Belarusian leader and Russian ally Alexander Lukashenko said in remarks published on March 5 that Moscow and Minsk benefit from how the US treats Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the…

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Lukashenko wins a 7th term in Belarus election

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko extended his 31-year rule with a massive win in a presidential election that Western governments have rejected as a sham, according to preliminary results on Monday.…

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Lukashenko seeks easing of Belarus isolation as he extends his long rule

Five candidates' names will appear on the ballot for a presidential election in Belarus on Sunday, but for the past 31 years there has only been one winner. In power…

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Belarus opposition leader urges people to be ready to take to the streets

Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has urged people to be ready to take to the streets to topple the regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Speaking at POLITICO’s P28 event in Brussels,…

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Russia, Belarus to sign landmark security pact

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, will sign a landmark security pact on Friday that reflects global geopolitical changes, Russian state news agency RIA said on…

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Belarusian leader Lukashenko pardons 32 people jailed for ‘extremism’

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 32 people who were convicted of extremism, according to the Pul Pervogo Telegram account which reports widely on his activities. It was the sixth…

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Lukashenko on Russia’s Nuclear Policy Changes: A Long Overdue Shift

Changes announced by Russia to its nuclear weapons policy were long overdue and will probably "cool the ardour" of its Western enemies, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview…

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ICC to open Belarus crimes against humanity inquiry

The International Criminal Court chief prosecutor said he would launch a preliminary inquiry against Belarus over alleged crimes against humanity under the rule of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Karim Khan…

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Belarus claims Pokemon is a Western intelligence tool

A Belarus Defense Ministry official has accused the once wildly popular mobile game Pokémon Go of being an instrument of Western intelligence. Alexander Ivanov, the ministry’s department head of ideological…

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Belarus says it has detained Japanese intelligence agent

Belarusian security forces have detained a suspected Japanese intelligence agent alleged to have observed border areas and military installations of the ex-Soviet state and Russian ally, Belarusian media reported. Media…

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Belarus’s Lukashenko pardons 30 more people convicted over protests

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 more people convicted for protest activity, state news agency Belta said on Wednesday. Human rights activists say there are about 1,400 people in…

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Ukraine calls on Belarus to pull back forces from border

Ukraine called on Belarus to pull back what it described as significant levels of Belarusian forces and equipment deployed at their common border. The Ukrainian foreign ministry warned Belarus against…

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Belarus increases troops, aircraft, and armor at Ukraine border

Belarus said it had sent aircraft, air defence forces and armoury to its border with Ukraine, a day after President Alexander Lukashenko said he had deployed nearly a third of…

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Belarus says there is a high chance of armed provocation from Ukraine

Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said on Friday there was a high probability of an armed provocation from neighbouring Ukraine and that the situation at their shared border "remains tense",…

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Belarus’ Lukashenko urges Russia and Ukraine to end war as Kursk incursion continues

Russia and Ukraine should negotiate an end to their conflict to avoid the war spilling over into Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko, a key ally of Vladimir Putin, said in an…

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Belarus to introduce 90 day visa-free regime for 35 European countries

Belarus, traditionally a close ally of Russia, said on Wednesday it would introduce a 90-day visa-free regime for citizens of 35 European countries in a sign Minsk may be keen…

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China, Belarus start joint military drills near Polish border

China and Belarus started joint military exercises on Monday, the Belarusian and Chinese defence ministries said, holding the drills just few miles (km) from the border of NATO-member Poland and…

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Belarus frees 10 political prisoners but 1,400 remain

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has freed at least 10 political prisoners, rights campaigners said on Thursday, including a veteran opposition figure suffering from cancer. But the rare pardon still leaves…

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Belarus’ Lukashenko says will release ill opponents from prison

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he was likely to issue an amnesty to some of his jailed political opponents who had taken part in protests against his re-election but…

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Belarus to reinforce its border with Ukraine after security incident

The border service of Belarus and the country's Ministry of Defence are taking measures to further reinforce the Belarusian border with Ukraine after a security incident, the Belarusian border service…

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Russia and Belarus start second stage of tactical nuclear drills

Russian and Belarusian troops have started the second stage of tactical nuclear drills in Russia, Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry said the drills were aimed at ensuring…

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Belarus says it is joining nuclear exercises with Russia

Belarus said on Monday its army was taking part in the second stage of Russian exercises ordered by President Vladimir Putin to practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. The…

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Putin in Belarus to discuss security, tactical nuclear weapon exercises

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Belarus, Moscow's closest ally, for talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko expected to focus on security and exercises with tactical nuclear weapons. Minsk…

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Belarus conducts tactical nuclear inspection together with Russia

Belarus has begun checks on the readiness of its army to deploy tactical nuclear weapons, state media said on Tuesday, simultaneously with preparations for a nuclear drill being carried out…

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Lukashenko: Up to me and Putin how to use nuclear weapons

The draft of the new Military Doctrine does not specify the procedure for utilizing nuclear weapons, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko disclosed while speaking to reporters during the 7th Belarusian People's…

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Belarus says it thwarted attack on capital by drones launched from Lithuania

The head of the Belarusian security service said on Thursday it had thwarted an attack on the capital Minsk by drones launched from Lithuania, Russian state news agencies said. There…

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Lukashenko to run for president in 2025

Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko said he would run for president again in 2025, Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported. Lukashenko made his comments after voting in parliamentary and local council…

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Belarus leader Lukashenko calls for armed street patrols, warns of ‘extremist’ crime

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko called on law enforcement agencies on Tuesday to organise patrols with small arms on the streets of Belarusian cities to ensure the…

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Belarus’ Lukashenko says ‘saboteurs’ detained on border with Ukraine

MOSCOW, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that several "saboteurs", including Ukrainian and Belarusian nationals, had been detained earlier on Friday on the border of…

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Belarus new military doctrine provides for first time the use nuclear weapons

The defence minister of Belarus announced that the country closely allied with Russia will put forth a new military doctrine that for the first time provides for the use of…

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Thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Belarus -Yale research

By Anthony Deutsch More than 2,400 children from Ukraine aged between six and 17 years old have been taken to 13 facilities across Belarus since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, research…

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Belarus musicians symbol of mass protests given long jail terms

The songs of Tor Band have become a symbol of mass protests that spread across Belarus like wildfire when authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko remained in power after 2020 elections condemned…

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Belarus begins army combat readiness exercises

(Reuters) - The Belarusian Defence Ministry said it had started exercises to check its armed forces' combat readiness. "The troops will march as soon as possible to the designated areas,…

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Belarus says Polish helicopter violated its airspace, Warsaw denies

Belarus said a Polish helicopter had violated its airspace but Warsaw said none of its helicopters had crossed the border between the two countries. Tense relations between the neighbors have…

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Belarus’ Lukashenko says demands for Wagner to withdraw ‘groundless and stupid’

Aug 31 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that demands for the withdrawal of Russia's Wagner mercenary group from Belarus were "groundless and stupid", Belarusian state news agency BELTA…

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Lukashenko opponents unite, plan ‘New Belarus’ passports

By Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska WARSAW (Reuters) - Exiled opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko met in Poland on Sunday, on the eve of the third anniversary of their unsuccessful post-election protests, to…

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Belarus arms emergency ministry to be ready in case of armed conflict

(Reuters) - The Belarusian ministry of emergency situations is completing the arming and military training of its personnel to be ready to aid the defence and internal ministries in the…

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Belarus leader says nuclear arms will not be used

(Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the Kremlin's staunchest ally in its war in Ukraine, said he was certain Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed in his country would never be…

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Belarus leader, long the supplicant, feted in Russia after mutiny role

By Andrew Osborn LONDON, (Reuters) - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is usually the one thanking Russia's Vladimir Putin or asking him for a favour - be it a loan, cheap…

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Russian ally Belarus starts ‘mobilisation exercises’

June 21 (Reuters) - Belarus, an ally of Russia in the war with Ukraine, said on Wednesday that its armed forces were beginning 10 days of annual "mobilisation exercises". The…

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Deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus not time-limited – senior Russian diplomat

MOSCOW, June 19 (Reuters) - Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is not time-limited, state news agency TASS quoted a senior Russian diplomat on Monday as saying. Russia…

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Belarus starts taking delivery of Russian nuclear weapons – president

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said his country has started taking delivery of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, some of which he said were three times more powerful than the atomic…

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Belarus art festival could renew pressure on Poland’s border

WARSAW (Reuters) - A visa waiver for participants of an art festival in Belarus in July could serve as a gateway for migrants and renew pressure on Poland's eastern border,…

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Belarus’s Lukashenko says there can be ‘nuclear weapons for everyone’

May 29 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that if any other country wanted to join a Russia-Belarus union there could be "nuclear weapons for everyone." Russia moved ahead…

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Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus

Russia inks deal with Belarus on nuclear weapons storage Belarus leader Lukashenko says weapons on the move Washington denounces planned deployment of Russian arms By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, (Reuters) -…

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Belarus leader appears in public, denies reports of serious illness

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko appeared in public on Tuesday and dismissed talk he was seriously ill, telling officials, "I'm not going to die, guys," according to a video shown by…

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Belarus accused of role in transfers of Ukrainian children

The Belarusian government has allegedly taken part in the illegal deportation of children from Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, exiled Belarusian opposition leaders said in a preliminary report. The National Anti-Crisis…

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