The situation in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, is tense as tens of thousands of Belarus protesters join opposition rallies against the controversial re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko. Over the last two Sundays, hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets of Belarus to protest against Lukashenko, who has been dubbed “Europe's last dictator”. The protests and strikes are the largest and most sustained challenge to Lukashenko's years in office, during which he has consistently repressed opposition and independent news media.
DGAP colleague, Slawomir Sierakowski, has been in Minsk covering this emerging crisis and reporting live as it happens in Belarus. He will be sharing his experiences live with the members!
Opening remarks:
Slawomir Sierakowski, Senior Fellow at the Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies, DGAP & Founder and Leader of Krytyka Polityczna (Political Critique), an Eastern European movement of liberal intellectuals, artists, and activists
Andras Racz, Senior Fellow at the Robert Bosch Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, DGAP
Chair: Sarah Pagung, Associate Fellow at the Robert Bosch Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, DGAP
In this interactive online discussion, our Speakers will talk about the goals and foreseeable actions of Lukashenko´s regime and the long-term strategic interests and short-term action of Russia. Special attention will be paid to policies of the armed forces and the security apparatus.
The discussion will be held in English.