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BELARUS NOTES: MISDIRECTIONS (II)
America considers letting Lukashenka get up off the naughty step. A comment on Belarus-US relations and sanctions.

Paul Hansbury
Oct 23, 20255 min read


BELARUS NOTES #12: U.S. DIPLOMACY
A US delegation went to Minsk. It gave Lukashenka a photo opportunity, the US something to crow about, and caused a headache for everyone else.

Paul Hansbury
Jul 10, 20258 min read


BELARUS NOTES #11: LUKASHENKA'S HOT POTATO
A shortage of potatoes in Belarus is leaving people disgruntled.

Paul Hansbury
May 18, 20254 min read


BELARUS NOTES #10: PROPAGANDA AND FREEDOM
A social media influencer interviewed Lukashenka. It was not pretty.

Paul Hansbury
Mar 25, 20256 min read


BELARUS NOTES #9: BALLOTS AND BULLETS
Belarus's dictator hopes next weekend's election will allow him to re-legitimise his grasp on power. Little suggests that will happen.

Paul Hansbury
Jan 19, 20256 min read


THE DICTATORS' BUSINESS
Anne Applebaum's latest book offers a breezy tour of Dictatorland. And it's a chilling read.

Paul Hansbury
Nov 1, 20246 min read


RUSSIA AND IRAN: AN ADDENDUM
A postscript to my previous post. Plus a comment on a submission to the International Criminal Court about Belarus and Georgia's election.

Paul Hansbury
Oct 15, 20246 min read


BELARUS NOTES #8: TROOPS ON THE UKRAINE BORDER
Interpreting a recent escalation along the Belarus-Ukraine border. Is there anything for Ukraine to worry about?

Paul Hansbury
Sep 3, 20244 min read


BELARUS NOTES #7: MINSK AND SHANGHAI
Belarus is the first European state to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation; Lukashenka's 30 years; and Tsikhanouskaya visits the UK.

Paul Hansbury
Jul 21, 20245 min read


THE BRUTALISATION OF RUSSIA
A few remarks on last month's terrorist attack in Moscow. The treatment of the four suspects is part of the brutalisation of Russia.

Paul Hansbury
Apr 2, 20247 min read


BELARUS NOTES #6: THE NO VOTE
A few notes on last weekend's elections in Belarus, and some Belarus-related events I've been involved in this past week.

Paul Hansbury
Mar 3, 20246 min read


BELARUS NOTES #5: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT
A recent decree will make many Belarusians stateless. The opposition is trying to convince others its New Belarus passport is the solution.

Paul Hansbury
Nov 18, 20235 min read


PRIGOZHIN’S DEATH: THE BELARUS ANGLE
After Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mercenaries marched on Moscow in late June, and then dramatically backed down, one thing was clear – there was...

Paul Hansbury
Aug 24, 20235 min read


LUKASHENKA AND THE PRIGOZHIN MUTINY
One man unexpectedly came out of last month’s spectacle rather well: Belarus’s dictator, Alyaksandr Lukashenka. What was his role, really?

Paul Hansbury
Jul 10, 202310 min read


BELARUS NOTES #3: SUCCESSION
Speculation surrounded Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s recent disappearance from public. After a six-day absence, he reappeared scrubbed and...

Paul Hansbury
May 30, 20236 min read


BELARUS NOTES #2: LUKASHENKA'S HEALTH
I’m resisting a click-bait worthy title. BNE Intellinews has gone with the bold: ‘Is Lukashenko Dead?’ Like most people commenting on...

Paul Hansbury
May 15, 20233 min read


BELARUS NOTES #1: NUKES
Last weekend Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will move tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs) to Belarusian territory. Meanwhile,...

Paul Hansbury
Mar 31, 20236 min read
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