Belarus

Belarusian leader appeals to Russia as pressure to quit grows

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday issued an appeal to long-term ally Russia as he faced growing pressure to step down following a disputed election that has triggered protests at…

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Protests swell in Belarus, Lukashenko blames foreigners

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko told people to stay at home to avoid becoming "cannon fodder" for what he said were foreign-backed revolutionaries after huge crowds took to the streets for…

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EU to impose new sanctions on Belarus

Germany's foreign minister said on Friday the European Union will impose new sanctions on Belarusian officials responsible for cracking down on protests triggered by a disputed election last Sunday. President…

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Poland braces for influx from Belarus after crackdown

Poland is bracing for an influx of people from neighbouring Belarus after a violent crackdown on post-election protests there but wants to maintain border security, deputy foreign minister Marcin Przydacz…

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Belarusian opposition leader calls for new protests and vote recount

Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Friday called for more peaceful protests and urged supporters to sign an online petition demanding a recount of a presidential election, in which she…

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Second protester dies in Belarus as UN sounds alarm

A protester has died in Belarus in police custody, the second death since clashes with police erupted on Sunday over a disputed presidential election. Officials say the cause of death…

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New clashes in Belarus

There were new clashes Tuesday night in Belarus after the Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya said she had fled abroad for the sake of her children after strongman leader Alexander…

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Belarus Opposition leader flees to Lithuania as clashes continue following contested election

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya has joined her children in neighbouring Lithuania, its foreign minister said on Tuesday, after two nights of clashes following the contested re-election of President Alexander…

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Opposition in Belarus refuses to recognise official election win by Lukashenko

Belarusian opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanouskaya said on Monday she refused to recognise official results that showed incumbent Alexander Lukashenko had won a landslide re-election victory. Preliminary official results earlier on…

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Belarusian election commission says Lukashenko was re-elected by a landslide

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko won re-election with 80% of the vote at the country's presidential election, the Central Election Commission cited preliminary results as saying on Monday. Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, a…

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Clashes in Belarus after poll predicts Lukashenko victory

Police in Belarus fired water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades in a crackdown on protests that erupted on Sunday as President Alexander Lukashenko was set to claim another election…

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Exit poll shows Lukashenko is set to win Belarus presidential election with 80% support

A preliminary exit poll has given Belarus' longtime leader Lukashenko nearly 80 per cent of the vote, according to Russian media reports. Main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, meanwhile, received 6.8…

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Belarus holds election as street protests rattle strongman president

Belarus votes in an election on Sunday pitting President Alexander Lukashenko against a former teacher who emerged from obscurity to lead the biggest challenge in years against the man once…

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Germany, France and Poland urge for free and fair election in Belarus

Germany, France and Poland are observing developments in Belarus with "great concern" ahead of the presidential vote this weekend, they said in a joint statement on Friday, urging authorities to…

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Voting Begins in Stormy Belarus Presidential Vote

Early voting began in Belarus today ahead of a presidential election in which strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko will seek a sixth term after ensuring that his main rivals were barred…

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Belarus, Ukraine beef up border controls after detention of alleged Russian mercenaries

Belarus and Ukraine have agreed to beef up their border controls and expand border cooperation after Belarus detained more than 30 alleged Russian mercenaries near Minsk ahead of Belarus' presidential…

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Belarus suspects Russian mercenaries preparing acts of terrorism

Belarus said on Thursday it suspected a group of alleged Russian mercenaries it detained the previous day of plotting "acts of terrorism" ahead of a presidential election in August and…

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Photo Story: Independence Day celebrations in Minsk

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (C) attends celebrations marking Independence Day or Day of the Republic in Minsk, Belarus, 03 July 2020. The Independence Day in Belarus is celebrated on the…

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Belarus opposition protests end in arrests

Police in Belarus arrested demonstrators and journalists on Friday evening to break up new protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, hours after he blamed foreign plotters for fomenting unrest. For the…

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Protests rattle Belarus President Lukashenko before election

In the Belarusian capital Minsk, a long queue formed outside a covered food market on Sunday as people waited for hours to give their signature to opposition candidates contesting a…

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Belarus presidential elections to be held on August 9

The Belarusian parliament said on Friday presidential elections would be held on Aug. 9, the news agency Belta reported, with the incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since…

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Belarus president in denial over coronavirus pandemic

Few measures have been enforced to curb coronavirus in Belarus - instead, people are being urged to drink vodka and go to saunas. The country - specifically its president -…

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US Secretary of State calls for real progress in relations with Belarus

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to "normalise" ties with Belarus at a time when relations between Minsk and its traditional ally Russia are under strain. The United…

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Rally in Minsk against Belarus-Russia deeper integration

Belarusian people hold a placard during a rally against the Belarus-Russia integration program in Minsk, Belarus, 07 December 2019. Belarusian and Russian authorities are expected to sign a new agreement…

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No Belarus opposition candidates win seats in Parliamentary election

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko maintained his hold on power after results published early on Monday (18 November) showed not a single opposition candidate had won a seat in parliamentary elections…

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Photo Story: Christmas decoration set up in Minsk

Belarussian communal workers over the weekend set up a framework for a Christmas Tree in downtown Minsk, Belarus. Photo: EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

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Belarus holds parliamentary polls

Belarusians head to the polls Sunday to elect members to the ex-Soviet republic's rubber-stamp parliament. The elections are being closely watched by the West to see how much President Alexander…

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International police action against Belarussian organised crime group involved in international cargo thefts

The German Police Department Heidekreis, in cooperation with the French Gendarmerie and Czech authorities, the German State Criminal Police Office of Saxony-Anhalt, EMPACT OPC, and Europol dismantled a Belarussian organised…

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Ukraine signs key agreement with pro-Russia separatists

Ukraine has signed an agreement with pro-Russia separatists allowing for local elections to be held in separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. It could pave the way for further peace talks.…

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Photo Story: New home for Konik horses

One of the first 50 konik horses are transported from the nature reserve of Oostvaardersplassen in Lelystad, the Netherlands to a nature reserve in Belarus,. A total of 150 konik…

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UEFA Nations League Roundup

Switzerland beat Iceland 6 - 0, while Spain beat England 2 - 1 in England. Northern Ireland lost to Bosnia Herzegovina 1 - 2. This is the round up of…

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