Updated March 12, 2021
Belarus: An Overview
Since 2020, Belarusian politics and society have undergone
wife, Veranika Tsapkala, joined her on the campaign. The
a transformation many observers view as both tragic and
three women attracted tens of thousands to demonstrations.
inspiring. Before Belarus’s August 2020 presidential
election, opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Given Lukashenko’s authoritarian rule, observers did not
mounted an unexpectedly strong campaign against
expect Tsikhanouskaya to win the election. However, the
Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for more
official pronouncement that Lukashenko won with an
than 26 years. Protests against allegedly widespread
evidently exaggerated 80% of the vote (to 10% for
electoral fraud and a brutal crackdown on protestors led to
Tsikhanouskaya) quickly led to protests. The brutal
the rise of a mass opposition movement, on a scale unseen
crackdown that followed led to larger protests that many
since Belarus became independent in 1991. Human rights
observers characterized as “leaderless” and sometimes
activists and monitors report more than 32,000 Belarusians,
attracted hundreds of thousands. Protests have since
including journalists, have been temporarily detained or
dwindled in frequency and size, but activists have adopted
imprisoned and consider about 200 to be political prisoners.
new methods of protest and engagement.
At least 10 demonstrators and others have been killed or
died under suspicious circumstances.
Figure 1. Belarus at a Glance
The United States, the European Union (EU), and others
have called for an end to the crackdown and for the
government to conduct a dialogue with the opposition and
hold democratic presidential elections.
Political Background
In past years, observers have debated whether Lukashenko
could be encouraged to preside over a “softer” and more
development-oriented authoritarian regime, but political
openings in Belarus have been modest and short-lived.
Prior to the 2020 election, Lukashenko appeared to be
interested in tightening Belarus’s authoritarian system. In
2019 elections, pro-government candidates won all 110

seats in parliament. In June 2020, Lukashenko appointed an
Sources: World Bank; U.N. Comtrade Database.
official from the security sector as prime minister.
Exile, imprisonment, and persecution have imposed
challenges for the opposition. Tsikhanouskaya and her
From May 2020, Belarusian authorities tried, but failed, to
children left Belarus after she was detained and threatened
suppress an unexpectedly energetic electoral opposition.
with imprisonment. In exile, Tsikhanouskaya formed a
Tsikhanouskaya was a political novice who entered the race
Coordination Council to help lead the opposition. Five of
after her spouse, Siarhei Tsikhanousky, a popular
the council’s seven senior members were detained after it
antigovernment video blogger, was denied candidate
was established. In September 2020, Kalesnikava was
registration when he and dozens of other government critics
abducted and dispatched to the Belarus-Poland border. She
were in temporary detention. After his initial release,
was imprisoned after she refused to leave the country.
Siarhei Tsikhanousky was arrested again while collecting
Kalesnikava and another council member, Maxim Znak,
signatures for his wife’s candidacy; he remains in prison.
remain in prison. Others have left Belarus.
Tsikhanouskaya became the united opposition candidate
The opposition has organized various actions to increase
after two prominent figures were denied registration. Viktar
pressure on the government of Belarus and secure
Babaryka, the longtime head of a bank owned by Russian
international attention. The opposition has been supported
energy company Gazprom, was arrested on charges of
by a network of former law enforcement officials who
bribery and money laundering that observers considered
reportedly quit their jobs in protest (or were dismissed) and
politically motivated. Valery Tsapkala, a former
who seek to expose alleged government crimes, including
ambassador to the United States and head of Belarus’s Hi-
against opposition figures and protesters. The opposition
Tech Park, an information and communications technology
also has been supported by members of Belarus’s once-
(ICT) hub, left the country under threat.
burgeoning ICT industry, many of whom have left the
country, along with several ICT companies.
Tsikhanouskaya pledged to be a transitional figure who
would reintroduce democracy to Belarus. Babaryka’s
campaign manager, Mariya Kalesnikava, and Tsapkala’s
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Belarus: An Overview
Relations with the West
2020, the EU imposed new economic sanctions and visa
The United States, the EU, and others condemn state-
restrictions on a total of 88 Belarusians, including
sponsored violence against protestors and detainees in
Lukashenko, and seven entities.
Belarus and the widening crackdown. U.S. officials have
conveyed support for the Belarusian people’s “right to free
Prior to 2020, the United States had designated 16
and fair elections” and called on Belarusian authorities to
Belarusians, including Lukashenko, pursuant to EO 13405.
“engage in meaningful dialogue with the Coordination
These individuals remain subject to sanctions. The United
Council and Belarusian civil society.” The European
States also designated a major Belarusian state-owned
Council, composed of the leaders of EU member states,
petrochemical company and subsidiaries. After the
stated the EU does “not recognize the results” of the 2020
Belarusian government released several political prisoners
election.
in 2015, the Treasury Department authorized certain
transactions with these entities. In 2016, the EU lifted most
In December 2020, Congress passed and the President
of its existing sanctions on 170 individuals and three
signed into law the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and
entities for human rights abuses and undermining
Sovereignty Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260, Division FF, Title
democracy.
III). The act amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004
(22 U.S.C. §5811 note). Among other things, the act states
Relations with Russia
it is the policy of the United States to reject the “invalid
Belarus’s closest security and economic partner is Russia.
results” of the 2020 presidential elections. The Belarus
Tensions between Belarus and Russia have increased in
Democracy Act of 2004, as amended, grants the President
recent years, with the two countries at odds over energy,
authority to impose sanctions on persons in Belarus for
debt, trade, and transit. Lukashenko also has rejected
human rights abuses and for undermining democracy.
Russian efforts to secure an airbase in Belarus. Many
observers believe Moscow’s preference is for a weakened
In the 117th Congress, a bipartisan group of Members
Lukashenko to stay in power and remain dependent on
introduced H.Res. 124, supporting the people of Belarus
Russia. Some believe Moscow might be satisfied by a
and their democratic aspirations. The House Committee on
political change that would not reduce Russia’s influence.
Foreign Affairs ordered an amended resolution to be
reported on February 25, 2021.
Belarus is a member of the Russia-led Collective Security
Treaty Organization and shares an air defense system with
Since 2008, the United States has had no ambassador and a
Russia. Belarus also is a member of the Russia-led Eurasian
limited diplomatic pres ence in Belarus, originally due to
Economic Union (EEU) and has relied heavily on Russian
restrictions imposed by Minsk. In December 2020, the
subsidized natural gas and oil and Russian (and Chinese)
Senate confirmed the appointment of Julie D. Fisher to be
loans. Belarus and Russia also are members of a bilateral
the first U.S. ambassador to Belarus in more than a decade.
“union state” that came into effect in 2000. This union is
As of March 12, 2021, Ambassador-Designate Fisher had
largely aspirational; a common labor market is the main
not yet presented her credentials to the government of
characteristic distinguishing it from the economic
Belarus.
integration Belarus and Russia have via EEU membership.
In recent years, U.S. assistance to Belarus has focused on
In 2019, Russia began reducing subsidies for Belarus’s
independent media and civil society, private sector
crude oil imports from Russia, leading to a decline in
development, and vulnerable populations. From FY2015 to
Belarus’s own revenues from refined oil exports. The
FY2019, the United States provided a total of about $49
Russian government said compensation for Belarus’s losses
million in obligated foreign assistance to Belarus. For
would be possible only as part of an agreement to deepen
FY2020, the State Department allocated $9.67 million in
the integration of the two countries, something Lukashenko
aid to Belarus. Since 2016, EU assistance to Belarus has
has sought to avoid.
amounted to about €30 million ($36 million) a year.
Since the 2020 election, Lukashenko has sought Russian
Sanctions
support. Russian media and propaganda workers reportedly
The United States and the EU have imposed sanctions on
were deployed to support Belarusian state media when
those they consider responsible for violence, repression,
employees went on strike in support of the protests. Russian
and election fraud in Belarus. In October and December
President Vladimir Putin announced the creation, at
2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated nine
Lukashenko’s request, of a “reserve of law enforcement
officials and four entities for sanctions pursuant to
officers” that could be sent to Belarus. Since August 2020,
Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, which established
the Russian government reportedly has provided Belarus
sanctions on those who engage in human rights abuses,
with a few billion dollars’ worth of new loans.
corruption, or the undermining of democracy in Belarus .
Since October 2020, the U.S. Department of State also has
In 2020, almost half of Belarus’s merchandise trade was
imposed visa restrictions on a total of at least 109
with Russia. The EU as a whole was Belarus’s second-
Belarusian officials pursuant to a related Presidential
largest trading partner, making up 20% of its merchandise
Proclamation 8015 of May 15, 2006.
trade. Less than 1% of Belarus’s total trade is with the
United States. In 2020, Belarus’s main exports were
The EU also has imposed sanctions in response to the
mineral fuels (mainly refined oil products, 14%), potassium
recent crackdown in Belarus. From October to December
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Belarus: An Overview
fertilizers (potash, 11%), dairy products (9%), and motor
Cory Welt, Specialist in Russian and European Affairs
vehicles and parts (8%).
IF10814


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