Updated June 7, 2021
Belarus: An Overview
In 2020, protests against allegedly widespread electoral
democracy to Belarus. One denied candidate’s campaign
fraud and a brutal crackdown on protesters led to the rise of
manager, Mariya Kalesnikava, and the spouse of another
a mass opposition movement in Belarus , on a scale unseen
denied candidate joined her on the campaign. The three
since the country became independent in 1991 (Belarus
women attracted tens of thousands to demonstrations.
previously was part of the Soviet Union). The protests
emerged in the wake of Belarus’s August 2020 presidential
Given Lukashenko’s authoritarian rule, observers did not
election, during which opposition candidate Sviatlana
expect Tsikhanouskaya to win the election. However, the
Tsikhanouskaya mounted an unexpectedly strong campaign
official pronouncement that Lukashenko won with an
against Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for
evidently exaggerated 80% of the vote quickly led to
more than 26 years.
protests. The brutal crackdown that followed led to larger
protests that many observers characterized as “leaderless”
Since August 2020, about 35,000 Belarusians reportedly
and sometimes attracted hundreds of thousands. Protests
have been detained or impris oned. More than 450,
subsequently dwindled in frequency and size, but activists
including 65 women, are considered political prisoners. At
adopted new methods of protest and engagement.
least 10 individuals have been killed or have died under
suspicious circumstances. The United States, the European
Figure 1. Belarus at a Glance
Union (EU), and others have called for an end to the
crackdown and for the government to hold free and fair
presidential elections.
Forced Diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978
On May 23, 2021, Belarusian authorities alleged a bomb
threat against Ryanair Flight 4978 (en route from Athens to
Vilnius) and required the plane to land in Minsk with a
military escort. The diversion was widely characterized as a
bomb hoax, and a senior EU official referred to it as an “act
of state piracy.” The apparent purpose of the diversion was
to capture flight passenger Raman Pratasevich, co-founder
of Nexta, a popular Belarusian online news channel that
facilitated 2020 postelection protests in Belarus. Authorities
arrested Pratasevich and his companion, Russian national
Sources: World Bank; Trade Data Monitor.
Sofia Sapega, after the plane landed. The United Nations’
International Civil Aviation Organization has launched an
Tsikhanouskaya left Belarus after she was detained and
investigation of the incident.
threatened with imprisonment. From neighboring Lithuania,
she formed a Coordination Council to help lead the
Political Background
opposition; five of the council’s seven senior members were
In past years, observers debated whether Lukashenko could
detained after it was established. Former campaign manager
be encouraged to preside over a “softer” and more
Kalesnikava was abducted and dispatched to the Belarus-
development-oriented authoritarian regime, but political
Poland border. She was imprisoned after she refused to
openings in Belarus were modest and short-lived.
leave the country. Kalesnikava and another council member
remain in prison. Others have left Belarus.
From May 2020, Belarusian authorities tried but failed to
suppress an unexpectedly energetic electoral opposition.
The opposition has organized various actions to increase
Tsikhanouskaya was a political novice who entered the race
pressure on the government of Belarus and to secure
after her spouse, Siarhei Tsikhanousky, a popular anti-
international attention. A network of former law
government video blogger, was denied candidate
enforcement officials who seek to expose alleged
registration when he and dozens of other government critics
government crimes has supported the opposition. Members
were in temporary detention. After his initial release,
of Belarus’s once-burgeoning information and
Tsikhanousky was arrested again while collecting
communications technology industry, many of whom have
signatures for his wife’s candidacy; he remains in prison.
left the country, also have supported the opposition.
Tsikhanouskaya became the united opposition candidate
Relations with Russia
after two prominent potential candidates were denied
Belarus’s closest partner is Russia. Belarus is a member of
registration. On the campaign trail, Tsikhanouskaya
the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, and
pledged to be a transitional figure who would reintroduce
the two countries share an air defense system. Belarus also
is a member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union
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Belarus: An Overview
and relies heavily on Russian subsidized natural gas and oil
confirmed the appointment of Julie D. Fisher as the first
and on Russian (and Chinese) loans. In addition, Belarus
U.S. ambassador to Belarus in more than a decade. As of
and Russia are members of a largely aspirational bilateral
early June 2021, Ambassador Fisher had not yet presented
“union state” that formally came into effect in 2000. Some
her credentials to the government of Belarus.
tensions between Belarus and Russia have increased in
recent years, with the two countries at odds over energy,
In recent years, U.S. assistance to Belarus has focused on
debt, trade, and transit. Lukashenko also has rejected
independent media and civil society, private sector
Russian efforts to secure an airbase in Belarus.
development, and vulnerable populations. From FY2015 to
FY2019, the United States provided a total of about $49
Observers have speculated that Russian authorities are
million in obligated foreign assistance to Belarus. For
using the political crisis in Belarus to deepen the two
FY2020, the State Department allocated $9.67 million in
countries’ integration, something Lukashenko has sought to
aid to Belarus. The President’s FY2022 State and Foreign
avoid. The Russian government reportedly has provided
Operations budget request includes $15 million “to support
Belarus with new loans worth hundreds of millions of
the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people.”
dollars. Russian media workers were deployed to support
Belarusian state media when employees went on strike in
Sanctions
support of the protests. Military cooperation between
The United States and the EU have imposed sanctions on
Belarus and Russia has increased, including plans to
those they consider responsible for violence, repression,
establish joint military training centers.
and election fraud. The U.S. Department of the Treasury
has designated nine officials and four entities for sanctions
About half of Belarus’s merchandise trade is with Russia.
pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13405 of June 16, 2006,
In 2019, Russia began to reduce subsidies for Belarus’s
which established sanctions on those who engage in human
crude oil imports from Russia, leading to a decline in
rights abuses, corruption, or the undermining of democracy
Belarus’s revenues from its own refined oil exports.
in Belarus. The State Department also has imposed visa
Although the dispute was eventually resolved, Belarus
restrictions on at least 109 Belarusian officials.
began to seek alternative suppliers to supplement oil
imports from Russia.
On April 19, 2021, the Treasury Department announced the
revocation (as of June 3, 2021) of a Belarus-related general
The EU as a whole is Belarus’s second-largest trade
license that had authorized U.S. persons “to engage in
partner, with 20% of its merchandise trade in 2020. Less
certain transactions with nine sanctioned Belarusian state-
than 1% of Belarus’s total trade is with the United States.
owned enterprises,” including a major petrochemical
Belarus’s main exports are mineral fuels (mainly refined oil
company, Belneftekhim, and subsidiaries. Prior to 2020, the
products, 14%), potassium fertilizers (potash, 11%), dairy
United States also designated 16 Belarusians, including
products (9%), and motor vehicles and parts (8%).
Lukashenko, pursuant to E.O. 13405. These individuals
remain subject to sanctions.
Relations with the United States and
Europe
The EU has imposed sanctions on 88 individuals, including
The United States, the EU, the Group of Seven (G7), and
Lukashenko, and seven entities, in response to the current
others have condemned the crackdown in Belarus and the
crackdown. In 2016, the EU lifted many of its previous
forced diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978. U.S. officials have
sanctions for human rights abuses and for undermining
conveyed support for the Belarusian people’s “right to free
democracy in Belarus.
and fair elections” and have called on authorities to “engage
in meaningful dialogue with the Coordination Council and
In response to the Ryanair flight diversion, the Biden
Belarusian civil society.” The European Council, composed
Administration said the United States is coordinating with
of the leaders of EU member states, stated the EU does “not
the EU and others to develop new sanctions. The
recognize the results” of the 2020 election.
Administration said the Department of Justice, including
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is working on the
The Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty
matter and the United States would suspend application of a
Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260, Division FF, Title III) was
2019 U.S.-Belarus Air Services Agreement. In response,
enacted in December 2020. The act amends the Belarus
Belarusian authorities said they would reduce the number of
Democracy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. §5811 note). Among
permitted staff at the U.S. Embassy in Belarus, tighten visa
other things, the act states it is the policy of the United
procedures, and revoke permission for the U.S. Agency for
States to reject the “invalid results” of the 2020 presidential
International Development to work in the country.
elections. The Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, as
amended, grants the President authority to impose sanctions
The EU has prohibited Belarus’s national airline from
on persons in Belarus for human rights abuses and for
overflights and landings in EU airspace and territory. The
undermining democracy. In the 117th Congress, the House
EU Aviation Safety Agency has called on member states to
of Representatives agreed to H.Res. 124, supporting the
restrict flights through Belarusian airspace. Additional EU
people of Belarus and their democratic aspirations.
sanctions reportedly could target aviation officials and
potentially potash (fertilizer), a major Belarusian export.
Since 2008, the United States has had no ambassador and a
limited diplomatic presence in Belarus, originally due to
Cory Welt, Specialist in Russian and European Affairs
restrictions imposed by Minsk. In 2020, the Senate
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Belarus: An Overview
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