Category: Belarus

Russia, Belarus Plan Massive Anti-NATO Military Exercise in Wake of Afghan Defeat

Commentary Vladimir Putin has emerged as a major benefactor of President Joe Biden’s surrender in Afghanistan and his backing off sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Russia and Belarus have announced plans to conduct a joint military exercise from Sept. 10 to 16 called Zapad 2021 that takes on added significance due to NATO’s humiliation in Afghanistan and…


UN Refugee Agency Pressures Poland to Help Illegal Immigrants on Belarus Border

WARSAW, Poland—The UN refugee agency and rights groups urged Poland on Tuesday to offer medical and legal support and shelter to illegal immigrants camping on the border with Belarus, a day after the Polish government said it would build a fence to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing. Poland and fellow EU states Lithuania and Latvia have…


Poland to Build Fence on Belarus Border to Halt Illegal Immigrants

WARSAW—Poland will build a fence along its border with Belarus, the defense minister said on Monday, to halt a flow of illegal immigrants the European Union says is being driven by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in retaliation for EU sanctions. Poland and fellow EU states Lithuania and Latvia have reported sharp increases in illegal immigrants…


EU Neighbors Jointly Rebuke Belarus for Illegal Migrant Surge

WARSAW—The leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia came together on Saturday to condemn Belarus for allowing migrants to illegally cross its borders into the European Union. “All European Union member states have a duty to protect borders and to stop illegal entries,” read a Polish government statement published after a video conference of the…


EU Holds Illegal Immigrant Talks, Accuses Belarus of ‘Hybrid Warfare’

BRUSSELS—European Union ministers are holding emergency talks on Wednesday in response to allegations that Belarus is deliberately sending illegal immigrants to Lithuania as part of a “hybrid warfare” campaign to destabilize the Baltic EU member country. The ministers are holding a videoconference in a so-called “integrated political crisis response” format. Such meetings are usually called…


Chief Editor of Independent Belarus News Agency Missing After Raid: Association

KYIV, Ukraine—The chief editor of one of Belarus’s leading independent news organisations has gone missing after police searched her home overnight, the country’s reporters’ association said on Wednesday, as authorities pursue a crackdown on dissent. Online news agency BelaPAN had been unable to contact either Irina Levshyna or one of its reporters, Zakhar Shcherbakov, the association…


Belarus Sprinter Feels Safe, Looks to Future in Poland

WARSAW, Poland—After all the turmoil of the last week, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya finally feels safe. The Belarusian Olympic sprinter who found refuge in Poland to avoid punishment at home after criticizing team officials at the Tokyo Games says she now hopes to focus on how to keep up a world-class running career. Speaking in an interview…


Belarus Retaliates Against US Sanctions

The authoritarian regime in Belarus retaliated against U.S. sanctions on Wednesday by withdrawing its approval for the appointment of the U.S. ambassador and telling Washington to reduce its embassy staff. The administration of President Joe Biden imposed new sanctions on Belarus on Monday, the one-year anniversary of widespread protests in response to an election the…


Latvia Starts Pushing Back Migrants at Tense Belarus Border

ROBEZNIEKI, Latvia—Latvian border guards turned back dozens of illegal migrants into Belarus overnight under a new state of emergency designed to stem a flow of arrivals the European Union says is orchestrated by Minsk. At daybreak on Wednesday some 30 migrants—including women and toddlers—started a camp fire to warm up after a night of walking…


Poland Reports Record Number of Illegal Migrants at Belarusian Border

WARSAW, Poland—A record number of illegal immigrants have crossed the Polish border with Belarus since Friday, the Border Guard said on Monday, amid accusations Minsk is using illegal crossings to pressure European Union states. Poland and Lithuania have seen a surge in illegal immigration in recent weeks that is so severe the countries have appealed…