Belarus Review by iSANS — March 24, 2025 

According to Ukrainian monitoring channels, between March 17 and March 23, at least 17 Russian drones were detected in Belarusian airspace. Later, nine drones crossed into Ukraine, while the fate of the others remains unknown. There were no reports of drones being intercepted in Belarusian airspace.

The Belarusian Armed Forces continued their combat readiness inspection. On March 20, the Ministry of Defense reported that as part of the inspection, tactical-special exercises were being conducted with units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces. According to the exercise scenario, units conducted a march to designated areas and prepared weapons and military equipment for operation. They also ensured the functioning of the Air Force and Air Defense command posts. During a tactical episode, one of the units successfully repelled a strike by a simulated enemy. On March 19, the ministry also reported that a ceremony was held at the 72^nd Joint Training Center to honor another group of servicemen called up from the reserve who participated in the combat readiness inspection. This indicates that another group of reservists, mobilized in February for military training, has completed their participation in the inspection and will be returning home.

On March 17, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin, reported that a Belarusian delegation would soon visit Russia to review proposals for joint drone production. “The Belarusian delegation will arrive in Russia soon and will review all specific proposals. They will work towards concrete agreements,” said Oreshkin.

On March 18, State Secretary of the Security Council Aliaksandr Valfovich stated that Belarus plans to transfer a certain number of vehicles to Russia in the near future, which will be used to mount the “Oreshnik” missile system. “This missile system is essentially a product of the Union State. The base vehicle is manufactured at defense industry enterprises in [Belarus], while the strike assets — the missiles — are produced in [Russia]. We are finalizing the production of the necessary number of these vehicles, which will soon be transferred to [Russia] for the installation of strike assets,” said Valfovich. He also stated that locations for the deployment of the “Oreshnik” missile system have been prepared in Belarus.

On March 18, the French publication Intelligence Online reported that Polish military intelligence is closely monitoring the activities of a drone operator training center established by the “Wagner PMC” in Vitsebsk. Each month, the center trains foreign military personnel from Africa. For example, at the end of February, fighters from the Libyan Army’s special forces unit completed training at the center. In the near future, military personnel from Mali are expected to undergo a similar course.

On March 18, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense reported that the 63^rd meeting of the Joint Advisory Group on Arms Control was held in Minsk, involving the defense ministries of Belarus and Russia. According to Head of the Department for International Military Cooperation Valery Ravenka, the meeting addressed transparency measures for the upcoming “Zapad-2025” exercises. “A range of issues related to the implementation of confidence- and security-building measures under the 2011 Vienna Document were discussed. […] We also conveyed our stance on regional confidence- and security-building measures to our neighbors: Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. We will continue working toward aligning positions and reducing tensions along the Belarusian state border. Specifically, the proposals we put forward to Poland regarding verification activities up to a depth of 80 kilometers remain in effect,” said Ravenka.

On March 18, while visiting Mazyr, Chief of the General Staff Pavel Muraveika noted the high level of interest in military service among women. The state news agency BelTA quoted him as saying, “Overall, today, 30% of military academy admissions are allocated to girls. The army is taking on a more female face, and some specialties are now unimaginable without them: logistics, special technical fields—professions that require female perseverance and precision.”

On March 20, the State Border Committee reported that a new border outpost complex, “Semenawka,” had been opened in the Homel border group sector. According to the committee’s chairman, Kanstancin Molastau, this is the second of six border outposts along the Belarusian-Ukrainian border scheduled to be commissioned by 2025.

On March 21, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense reported that tactical exercises were conducted at the Barysauski training ground with one of the divisions of the 231st Artillery Brigade. During the exercises, artillery units engaged targets using high-explosive fragmentation shells from 152mm towed 2A65 “Msta-B” howitzers. Additionally, servicemen employed “Krasnopol” precision-guided munitions at a range exceeding 14 kilometers.

On March 21, the press service of the Internal Troops published an interview with commander Mikalai Karpiankou, in which he commented on drone incursions into Belarus. “Very often, drones cross into our border areas. [..] Whenever they crash into open fields, they explode. But when they crash in populated areas — in Khoiniki, Loyeu — you know, they do not detonate. They just fall right between houses, onto roads. They land just 50-60 meters from homes, and, as you know, they do not explode. […] This happens almost every week,” said Karpiankou. He also stated that some of the drones are intercepted, while others require defusing. Karpiankou did not specify which country the drones originated from.

On March 18, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visited Brussels, where she participated in a meeting of EU ministers for European affairs. She urged European leaders to take decisive action to help Belarus overcome its political crisis. Emphasizing the link between democracy and security, she stated, “When a government does not respect its own people, it will not respect its neighbors either.” Tsikhanouskaya stressed that a democratic Belarus would ensure stability along the EU’s eastern border, declaring, “Democratic changes in Belarus guarantee 1,000 kilometers of a secure border — without migrant attacks or the constant fear of war.” In particular, she was calling for a stricter isolation of the Lukashenka regime, while maintaining and increasing mobility of the Belarusian citizens along with support to civil society and democratic initiatives. Her visit underscores ongoing efforts to gain European support for Belarusian democratic forces.

On March 21, Tsikhanouskaya met with UK Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty, to launch Strategic Consultations between the United Kingdom and Belarus’ democratic forces. She expressed gratitude for the UK’s unwavering support and emphasized the importance of maintaining Belarus on the international agenda. “These consultations will strengthen our cooperation and ensure that Belarus remains on the international agenda,” Tsikhanouskaya stated. The consultations will focus on three key areas: political prisoners and transnational repression, support for Belarusian culture and diaspora, and countering Russian propaganda and media suppression. Tsikhanouskaya also stressed the need for a long-term UK strategy on Belarus, highlighting that this initiative marks a significant step in bilateral cooperation. The talks reaffirm London’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and security in Europe. Additionally, a meeting in the UK Parliament with Shadow Minister Wendy Morton and Labour Party representative Lord George Foulkes took place, where an important development was announced: An All-Party Parliamentary Group “For Freedom and Democracy in Belarus” has been officially established in the UK.

During the period under review, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov announced upcoming visits by several foreign leaders, signaling Minsk’s efforts to expand international cooperation. Speaking on the state-run Belarus One television channel, Ryzhenkov highlighted that some of these visits would involve countries geographically distant from Belarus, reflecting its growing diplomatic outreach. Among the planned visits is a return trip by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, as well as a visit from the Sultan of Oman, with whom Belarus is engaged in an active dialogue. In preparation, expert delegations are working on agreements in key sectors, including agriculture, woodworking, humanitarian cooperation, transportation, and logistics. Additionally, the president of Guinea-Bissau is set to visit Belarus, alongside the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam, whose trip is expected to solidify bilateral initiatives. Plans are also in place for a visit by the President of Zimbabwe, further demonstrating Belarus’s push to strengthen ties with non-Western partners. Meanwhile, on the same day, Aliaksandr Lukashenka met with Ryzhenkov to discuss steps “aimed at restoring trust in relations with international partners”, including several Western countries. According to Ryzhenkov, the meeting addressed key foreign policy initiatives, though specific details were not disclosed. Discussions also covered upcoming state visits, progress in cooperation efforts — particularly with China — and Belarus’s role in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), where it holds the presidency this year. Additionally, Lukashenka is preparing to convene a meeting with Belarusian ambassadors to outline diplomatic priorities.

Belstat reported a record number of Belarusians leaving for short-term work abroad in 2024, with 112,400 people seeking employment outside the country — 2,000 more than in 2023. The highest outflow was from the Mahilyow region, with reportedly 25,200 departures, while Minsk recorded 2,500 labor migrants. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) presented conflicting data, claiming fewer Belarusians are working abroad, though it only tracks official employment through agencies. According to the ministry, in 2024, just 3,500 Belarusians were officially employed abroad, mainly in Russia (1,600) and Poland (1,200), with Germany being the only growing destination. “If Belstat accounted for long-term migration, the numbers would be even higher,” noted experts, emphasizing the scale of unofficial labor migration. The majority of migrants work in industry and agriculture (72%), with men making up 70% of all departures, though women dominate migration to countries like China and the UAE.

Lithuania is not ruling out mining its borders with Belarus and Russia as part of its enhanced security measures. The country’s Ministry of Defense has announced plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines and has unveiled a large-scale ammunition procurement, including the purchase of 85,000 anti-personnel mines worth EUR 50 million. Defense Minister Davile Sakaliene disclosed this while summarizing her first 100 days in office, according to the ministry’s official website. On March 18, Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia jointly declared the need to denounce the convention, citing the necessity of strengthening defense amid growing threats from Russia. Finland may also join this decision in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited a border outpost in the town of Krynki in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, which borders the Berastavitsa district of the Hrodna region in Belarus. Tusk stated that Poland has achieved “98% efficiency in detaining” illegal migrants attempting to cross the border from Belarus. According to him, a total of 11,000 soldiers, border guards, and police officers are currently stationed along the Belarusian border.

Ukrainian Government has approved regulation on blocking broadcasts from Belarus. On March 21, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers approved a regulation on the special television and radio broadcasting system, according to a statement from Taras Melnychuk, a government representative in the Verkhovna Rada. This special broadcasting system is designed to block signals of terrestrial television and radio broadcasts in the FM band originating from Russia, Belarus, and the Transnistrian region of Moldova.

Diplomats from European countries laid flowers at the memorial in Khatyn on the anniversary of the destruction of the village during the Second World War. Head of EU Delegation to Belarus Steen Noerlov wrote on “X”: “Khatyn was a Belarusian village Nazis burned to the ground with its inhabitants 82 years ago. Today at the Khatyn memorial, diplomats paid tribute to the memory of countless lives lost to the atrocity of war. May new generations never know it”.

A traditional annual manifestation of Belarusians in honor of the Freedom Day – the 107^th anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BNR) was held in Warsaw. Participants carried a large national  white-red-white flag through the center of the Polish capital.

At least 133 persons have been convicted under “terrorist” articles since 2020, “Viasna” Human Rights Center reported. These charges have been actively used against dissidents, activists and those who support Ukraine. The most common charge was “an act of terrorism” (Article 289 of the Criminal Code). 71 persons were convicted under it. Of these, 26 were convicted for supporting Ukraine in the war against Russian aggression, nine were sentenced in absentia, eight were defendants in the “Machulishchi sabotage case”, eight were foreign citizens. At least 21 person, including “rail guerrillas”, was convicted of “creating an organization to carry out terrorist activities or participating in it” (Article 290-4). Six persons were convicted of “organizing the activities of a terrorist organization and participating in such an organization” (Article 290-5). 11 persons were convicted of “an act of terrorism against a state or public figure” (Article 359) – these were the defendants in the “Haidukevich case”, “Civil self-defense units of Belarus case” and “Busly latyats” (The storks are flying) case. Six persons were convicted for “threatening to commit an act of terrorism” (Article 290). Donations to initiatives and structures recognized as “terrorist organizations” are prosecuted under Article 290-1 (financing of terrorist activities). At least 17 persons were convicted under this charge. One person, Russian citizen Alexei Kulikov, was convicted for an act of international terrorism (Article 126). According to human rights activists, a total of 40 persons have been convicted in Belarus for supporting Ukraine in the war. In 2022, Belarus increased penalties for preparing or attempting to commit acts of terrorism, up to the death penalty.

Over the past four years, more than 200 persons have been convicted for “calling for sanctions”. Most have received long prison terms, and trials in absentia are also actively underway. The prosecutors do not even try to link the statements of political prisoners with the consequences for the country’s economy. “Viasna” Human Rights Center noted that the figures indicate a tightening of repression: 48 sentences for “calls for sanctions” were handed down before the beginning of 2023, while by the beginning of 2025 there were already 173. The majority of those convicted (157 persons) were sentenced to prison terms, among them are foreigners – citizens of Latvia, Russia and the United States. Human rights activists note that, theoretically, any critical statement against the Lukashenka regime can be charged under this article. “The authorities are trying to make the very word “sanctions” cause fear among people”, human rights activists said. The broad wording of the charge is a characteristic feature of repressive practices in Belarus.

In February, human rights defenders recorded the continuation of a steady trend of persecution for political reasons in criminal proceedings. At least 156 persons were convicted in this month under criminal charges. 114 of them were men, 42 were women. Five more persons were convicted in the framework of in absentia trials. In February, there was a surge in the number of prosecuted families or groups of relatives. The persecution of families and groups of relatives is taking on increasingly diverse forms: group trials, prolonged court proceedings, and the persecution of those publicly advocating for the interests of their relative, who had previously been a victim of repression.

The Belarusian authorities continue to persecute the participants of the protests against the falsification of the 2020 elections. Most often, they are accused of “organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or of actively participating in them”. According to this charge, a person can be held criminally liable for five years. Thus, the statute of limitations on some cases related to the 2020 protests will begin to expire this summer. At the same time, experts believe that a decrease in the number of political prisoners should not be expected. The repressive practice is changing only in the direction of strengthening the punitive potential of law enforcement agencies. There are “political” articles in the Criminal Code, the statute of limitations of which is significantly longer. For creating an “extremist formation”, as well as for participating in mass riots, the status of limitations is ten years, and for “organizing riots” – 15 years. In addition, “political” criminal cases are massively falsified, so the statute of limitations on one charge or another is unlikely to stop the security forces. Mikhas Kirylyuk, a lawyer at the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAU) and a member of the Coordination Council of the opposition, notes a trend when people unfamiliar with each other are declared members of the same “extremist organization” and tried together under a more serious charge – for a crime committed as part of a group. “It’s absurd, but that doesn’t stop keeping an innocent person in prison,” he commented. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is currently talking about the possibility of introducing criminal liability for “bullying”. The way this is presented in the news looks like a “threat of an additional method of political persecution”, Kirylyuk noted. Anything can be recognized as “bullying”, he pointed out. There is no shortage of “rubber” articles in the administrative and criminal codes. If the case is against opponents of the government, judges tend to interpret hooliganism, insults, slander, and incitement to racial, national, religious, or other social hostility or discord widely.

In the end of 2024, The International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus presented a report on the activities of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption “GUBOPiK – the regime’s punitive unit for combating dissent”. The report analyzed data from open sources, as well as 33 interviews of victims of the security forces recorded by representatives of the Committee from August 2020 to September 2022. Human rights activists note that they wanted to draw attention to “the impunity of law enforcement agencies and the prosecution of those involved in human rights violations and crimes”. The report referred to GUBOPiK employees responsible for repression and violence against civilians. The authors of the report cite evidence of involvement in the torture of three GUBOPIK employees: Aliaksandr Aleksa, Valery Vysotski and Ivan Tarasik. They state that the actions of GUBOPiK employees are comparable to the methods of a criminal group, where “through violence, torture and ill-treatment of detainees, criminals achieve their goals”, and fall under the category of crimes against humanity.

As it became known, in 2024, criminal cases were initiated in absentia against “one and a half dozen journalists of Radyjo Svaboda”. There were also reports of searches and interrogations faced by relatives of employees. No details are known.

Nakanishi Masatoshi, a Japanese national, was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony and fined 21,000 Belarusian rubles (about 5,900 Euro). This was announced on March 17. According to investigators, he was engaged in “espionage activities” in Belarus from 2018 to 2024. Nakanishi Masatoshi was detained in July 2024. A few months later, the state media aired a story claiming that he allegedly “collected and transmitted” military intelligence information to the Japanese intelligence service. The Japanese Embassy in Belarus stated that it had been in contact with the Belarusian authorities “since the incident occurred,” including calls for his immediate release. “We will continue to take measures appropriate from the point of view of protecting our citizens,” it stated.

On March 17, the Minsk City Court began consideration of the criminal case of Estonian citizen Alan Roya and basketball referee Aliaksandr Syrytsa. They are charged with creating or participating in an extremist group, slandering and insulting Lukashenka, and inciting discord. A year ago, the KGB decided to recognize the “Fund of Belarus Friend LTD” as an “extremist group”. Belarusians Aleh Stefanovich and Aliaksandr Syrytsa, as well as Estonian citizen Alan Roya, were mentioned in connection with this foundation. According to “Viasna” Human Rights Center, Roya and Syrytsa have been detained for more than a year.

Last week, 91 more person was granted the status of a former political prisoner. The corresponding statement was signed by “Viasna” Human Rights Center, Pravovaya Initsiativa, Lawtrend, the Belarusian PEN, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Respect-Protect-Fulfill, and the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House. Valyantsin Ivanouski was recognized as a former political prisoner posthumously. He died a few months after his release at the age of 48.

Dzmitry Skubilau, a former employee of the Belarusian customs, was featured in a propaganda story on the ONT TV channel and called an “agent of the Lithuanian special services”. He was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment and a fine of 500 basic units (around 5900 Euro) on charges of high treason. Skubilau worked for a long time as an employee of the Ashmyansk customs, arranging the movement of vehicles. The story claims that he was allegedly an agent of the Lithuanian State Security Department, to which he supplied information about Belarusian citizens, work conducted at the checkpoint, vehicle checks, movements of military equipment, the bridge in the village of Mikhalishki, the nuclear power plant and the military units guarding it, and the water intake for the needs of the station.

The Investigative Committee threatened to criminalize the participants of the protest actions on the upcoming Freedom Day, which is celebrated annually on March 25. It promised to give a “principled” legal assessment and analyze “data on potential and actual participants in these events in order to identify them and further bring them to criminal responsibility, including using a special procedure mechanism.” Regarding the protests that took place on January 26 in European cities and New York against another falsification of the presidential elections in Belarus, it was reported that “the identification and prosecution of participants continues. Searches have been conducted as part of a criminal case.” The Investigative Committee called the participants of these actions an “extremist asset”. “Their property and real estate are being established and seized for subsequent compensation of damage caused to the state. As part of the investigation, all participants in street actions abroad, which is about 400 persons, were recognized as suspects in a criminal case,” the Investigative Committee reported.

On March 19, during interactive dialogues at the 58^th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus presented its report. The report noted that the lack of democratic institutions and independent judicial system, the perception of civil society as a threat, as well as a culture of impunity have paved the way for human rights violations that have been observed in Belarus since 2020. Until these structural factors are eliminated, “repression and violence are likely to continue, forcing more and more Belarusians to leave the country,” said Karinna Moskalenko, Chair of the Group. The brutal reaction of the Belarusian authorities to the unprecedented mass protests that preceded and followed the 2020 presidential elections was not an isolated incident, but a manifestation of the existing governance model, she stressed. “We have reasonable grounds to believe that some of the human rights violations documented in our report amount to crimes against humanity in the form of political persecution and imprisonment. The group found that the organized campaign of violence was directed against Belarusians who were perceived as critical or opposed to the government,” Moskalenko continued. She noted the need to bring the perpetrators to justice, adding that the Belarusian authorities do not investigate human rights violations and do not punish those who committed them. “Belarus clearly demonstrates its inability and unwillingness to prosecute international crimes under its jurisdiction,” Moskalenko said. “For this reason, we believe that accountability initiatives should come from the international community. Several countries have already responded in various ways, including by appealing to the International Criminal Court and opening internal investigations in accordance with the principle of universal jurisdiction,” she added.

On March 19, the protocol of the first meeting of the Working group on the stay of Belarusian citizens in Poland was agreed in Warsaw, which outlined the key problems of legalizing Belarusians and their possible solutions. The meeting was chaired by the Head of the Polish Office for Foreigners, Tomasz Cytrynowicz. A number of agreements were fixed in the final protocol. In particular, the possibility of submitting applications for legalizing the stay of children born in Poland to Belarusian citizens, as well as solving problems with the recognition of a Polish travel document of a foreigner was confirmed. Its recognition as an identity document was discussed.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya became the winner of the Sjur Lindebrækkes Prize, awarded by the Norwegian Conservative Party (Høyre) for her contribution to the protection of human rights and the development of democracy. The prize has been awarded since 2007 and is named after one of Norway’s most influential politicians of the post-war period. This year’s winner was selected by an independent committee chaired by Professor Janne Haaland Matláry. “Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is fighting a brave fight for democracy. Belarus is often overlooked in the news in light of the brutal military actions in Ukraine. Tsikhanouskaya deserves credit for her leadership and perseverance,” Matláry said. The award is accompanied by a monetary reward of 50,000 Norwegian kroner (about 4,700 USD), which will be used for the work of Tsikhanouskaya’s office in support of democracy and political prisoners in Belarus, the Party said. The awarding the prize to Tsikhanouskaya was a symbolic expression of solidarity with all those whose freedoms are suppressed with Moscow’s support, Høyre noted.

Last week, both official sources and anonymous representatives of the Lukashenka regime such as Telegram channels run by his security forces and propagandists openly expressed their joy over the troubles faced by RFE/RL and Voice of America. The Foreign Ministry’s Telegram channel, “Hlas MIDA” (MFA’s Voice), stated: “So, it turns out that without state support, these “freedom fighters’’ are not so great after all.” The channel “Grafach,” which is linked to Information Minister Marat Markau, compared the situation to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan: “The closure of USAID and Radio Liberty projects is reminiscent of how the Americans abandoned tens of thousands of their collaborators, who clung to the landing gear of departing military planes, left behind without any future. Now, thousands of full-time employees and their agents, who can never return home, have been thrown onto the streets with no prospects. This once again proves that even those who serve traitors despise them.” Vadzim Hihin, a member of parliament, praised Donald Trump’s actions: “Trump’s purge is simply outstanding! Voice of America employees are not even allowed into their offices to collect their personal belongings. These disgusting propaganda outlets, this gathering of traitors, are finally getting what they deserve from their own masters. Such is the fate of all turncoats. For decades, they have incited discord between nations, fabricated and promoted absurd pseudo-historical myths.”

In an interview with the newspaper SB. Belarus Today on March 18, Deputy Interior Minister Mikalai Karpiankou spoke about the country’s military-patriotic clubs, stating that “children should be ready to stand up for the president”: “Our movement is aimed at promoting service to the Motherland, fostering a trend among young people to be smart, strong, attractive, and prepared to defend their homeland with weapons in hand. Children must be ready to stand up for the country, for the President, and always respond adequately to slander and extremism at various levels.” According to him, there are already many such “boys and girls” in these clubs, and he compared them to “Komsomol members from the Civil War era.” Karpiankou also highlighted the success of creating information warfare units: “Their cooperation with special forces units has allowed us to win the information campaign against our adversaries.”

On March 18, Aliaksandr Lukashenka held a working meeting with Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhankou, who reported that one of the topics discussed was dialogue with the West: “A number of steps taken by our partners and us to restore trust in our relations were discussed with the head of state. This included discussions on certain Western countries.” He did not specify which countries or topics were addressed.

That same day, Ryzhankou gave an interview to the state channel Belarus 1, where he said that the “situation” had forced Belarusian authorities to turn their attention to more distant countries: “If our neighbors across the border refuse to take advantage of cooperation with Belarus, or through Belarus and Russia with other states such as China and the East, we won’t stand at the border begging them. We can only address the people of these countries and ask them: Why are your utility bills rising? Why is your infrastructure collapsing? Why has all your youth left? Why, for instance, is the demographic situation in some of our Baltic neighbors catastrophic, with young people fleeing massively due to a lack of prospects?” In the same interview, he referred to some of Belarus’s neighbors as “dead-end, provincial, marginal offshoots of the European Union.” According to him, Lukashenka, Putin, and “the American president” all recognize that the world is “on the brink,” which is why they are “starting to speak the same language.” He criticized EU leaders for not joining this conversation but instead urging military spending out of fear that “the Russians will come to Berlin, London, and Paris.” The minister emphasized that Belarus is “open to dialogue,” but in his view, it must be “a comprehensive, equal dialogue without the deception we have come to expect from the EU and the U.S.”

On March 18, state TV aired a propaganda film, “Foreign Sky,” in which exiled Belarusians spoke about the hardships of living abroad. “These are not anonymous accounts with disguised voices. There were many of those in 2020, all painting a rosy picture of life in Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, where everything was supposedly easy. In “Foreign Sky,” people who have fully experienced Western luxury tell stories of just a couple of years abroad, yet they sound like war-weary old men. This film is a must-watch. It’s rated 18+, with no censorship. And most importantly, there is not a single word from BT journalists — only the confessions of exiles, whom Belarus is still willing to take back,” the propagandists claim, emphasizing that “Belarus remains ready to welcome” those they disdainfully call “runaways.” However, most of the film’s subjects were unaware that their footage would be used by Belarusian propagandists. Director Aliaksei Martsinionak and his team deliberately deceived people to obtain these “uncensored stories.” For example, participants in Vilnius were told that the footage was for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s office and for internal use only. Another unwitting participant, activist Uladzimir Lazarau from Bialystok, was approached via Telegram by supposed “friends from Vilnius,” asking him to record a video for their media. Tsikhanouskaya’s office condemned this manipulation, calling it outrageous and accusing the regime of exploiting vulnerable people who had trusted acquaintances or pseudo-journalists.

At athe UN Human Rights Council meeting on March 19, Belarusian representative Larysa Belskaya claimed that international organizations spread false information about repression in Belarus. She argued that Belarus does not need external assessments and ensures all necessary rights and freedoms itself, with “humanity” as “a key principle of its policy.” As an example of this so-called “humane approach,” she cited the pardon of 293 individuals convicted of “anti-state activities.” Belskaya insisted that there are “no politically motivated persecutions” in Belarus but did not mention how many remain imprisoned for “crimes related to anti-state activities.” A recent UN report on Belarus highlighted detentions, torture, and systematic human rights violations as Lukashenka seeks to maintain power. In response, Belskaya attacked the West for using such reports as a pretext for sanctions, interference in internal affairs, and support for those “who aim to destroy Belarusian statehood.” She dismissed the report as a “baseless commissioned essay” justifying why “the EU has designated Belarus a major human rights violator.”

Belarusian propagandists continue to cover the war in Ukraine, often emphasizing that Belarus, as a “brotherly” nation, could contribute to resolving the crisis – while simultaneously ignoring or justifying the fact that Lukashenka is an ally of Putin.

On March 20, during a livestream hosted by Ryhor Azaronak, parliamentarian and propagandist Vadzim Hihin expressed the view that Ukraine is “part of a single civilization” with Belarus and Russia and must therefore be “guided onto the right path”: “…The main goal of the Special Military Operation is that Ukraine cannot exist in any form other than as a state allied with us. This is what our President has said: sooner or later, Ukraine will return to the fold of our Slavic unity.” Meanwhile, pro-regime political analyst Andrei Lazutkin questioned the success of the U.S. President Trump’s peace efforts, mockingly referring to him as “Trumpushka” (“little Trump”, a diminutive and affectionate construction, usually used in relation to children or abnormal heroes of fairy tales)  and “our peace dove.” Lazutkin dismissed Trump’s approach because he is not pushing for Ukraine’s disarmament and will not interfere with the EU, which is “already taking out loans” to purchase weapons from the U.S. military-industrial complex.