A clear priority for Western policy towards Belarus is support for pro-democracy actors, including independent media and civil society. This commitment is being upheld and it is working. The aspects that are not working relate to the policy towards Lukashenka’s regime.
Western policy on Belarus lacks sufficient political and financial resources as well as ideas and influential actors needed to change Lukashenka’s behaviour.
Meanwhile Belarus is rightly perceived as a co-aggressor in Russia’s war on Ukraine. This has huge implications in terms of reputational damage, for example in the UN and also in terms of sanctions.
In this video experts discuss the way forward for Western policy towards the country.
Speakers:
- Ryhor Astapenia, Belarus Initiative Director, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
- Anais Marin, Associate Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
- Volha Loika, Belarusian journalist and former political prisoner
- Artyom Shraibman, Founder and Political Analyst, Sense Analytics