Belarus Review by iSANS — May 12, 2025 

According to Ukrainian monitoring channels, at least six Russian drones of the “Shahed” type were recorded in Belarusian airspace between May 5 and 11. Nothing is known about the subsequent fate of the drones. There were no reports of them being destroyed.

On May 5, Presidential Decree No. 179 “On the Conscription of Reserve Officers for Military Service” was signed. The document provides that in 2025, Belarusian citizens under the age of 27 who are reserve officers and have not completed compulsory military service will be called up for service in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Border Guard Service. The number of reserve officers subject to conscription was not disclosed; it is contained in an appendix to the decree marked “For official use only”. This is the third instance in the history of sovereign Belarus (the first being in 1994, the second in 2024) in which this information has not been made public. It was noted that implementation of the decree will: 1) improve the manning levels of junior officer posts; and 2) ensure the training of the mobilisation reserve. Another reason may be added — the creation of a personnel reserve for the units of the Southern Operational Command, which is currently being formed. The conscription of reserve officers in sovereign Belarus has been conducted (intermittently) since 1994. Since 2016, it has been carried out annually — with 100 persons called up each year. The situation changed in 2022, when the number of conscripts rose to 150. In 2024, an absolute record was set — 1,000 reserve officers were called up.

On May 5, the Ukrainian monitoring channel “KiberBoroshno” reported that, in preparation for the Victory Day parade (likely in Moscow on 9 May), the Russians had withdrawn S-300/S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Belarus. When asked by the publication “Flagstok” to provide more detailed information, “KiberBoroshno” declined to comment. It is likely that the report concerns units of the 1530^th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces (military unit 31458). The regiment was deployed to Belarus in February 2022 to participate in the “Union Resolve 2022” exercise. Since then, Russian military personnel have remained at airfields in the Mazyr and Homiel districts — “Mazyr” (“Bokov”) and “Ziabrauka”, where one S-400 missile battalion is located at each site. “Pantsir-S1” systems are used to cover the complexes. There is no other confirmation of the withdrawal of Russian air defence systems from Belarus.

On May 9, a military parade was held in Minsk to mark the 80^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War over the Nazi Germany. The parade featured an aerial formation, as well as marching and mechanised columns. Representatives from Russia participated in the parade: 1) in the aerial formation — four Su-30SM fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ elite aerobatic group “Russian Knights”; 2) in the marching column — cadets of the Nizhny Novgorod Cadet Corps and officer cadets of the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy; 3) in the mechanised column — “Linza” protected medical evacuation vehicles and “Spartak” armoured vehicles. Among the foreign participants were the honour guard of the People’s Liberation Army of China and small four-person groups carrying banners from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The mechanised column featured samples of equipment in service with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. For example, BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers took part in the parade equipped with anti-drone protection kits (the so-called “mangals”). On the Iskander operational-tactical missile systems, radiation hazard signs were visible — a symbolic gesture by the organisers to underscore the presence of tactical nuclear weapons on the country’s territory. Also displayed were BM-21B “BelGrad-2” multiple launch rocket systems — a Belarusian modernisation of the “Grad”. Notably, servicemen wearing telnyashkas — a uniform element of the Special Operations Forces — were present in the vehicle cabins, possibly indicating the transfer of these modernised systems to those units. “Geran-2” drones were also demonstrated. According to the announcer, the parade featured for the first time a mobile surface-to-air missile system — a twin ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun mounted on a MAZ-6317 truck chassis, as well as the “Lerka” battery command post, which allegedly entered service with the Belarusian Armed Forces in 2024.

On May 11, in a segment on state media, Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces Andrei Lukyanovich stated that at the end of May, Belarus would receive its first pair (two aircraft) of Russian Su-30SM2 fighter jets. “Very soon, literally at the end of May, we will receive the first pair of Su-30SM2s. The aircraft are more advanced, with modern avionics. Their capabilities are completely different, including the use of advanced airborne weapons,” he said. The production of Su-30SM2 fighters for Belarus at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant was reported in June 2024. The Su-30SM2 is a modernised version of the Su-30SM. It is equipped with a new all-weather onboard radar system “Irbis-E”, a suite of electronic warfare tools, AL-41F1S engines (from the Su-35S fighter), among other improvements. The range of high-precision weapons compatible with the Su-30SM2 has been expanded (including hypersonic weapons).

During her visit to Washington, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, held a series of meetings with representatives of the U.S. Congress, the Department of State, and policy think tanks. This marked Tsikhanouskaya’s first visit and initial engagements with officials from the new U.S. administration. The primary objectives of the visit were to strengthen the bilateral strategic dialogue, discuss next steps towards the release of political prisoners, advocate for the renewal of the Belarus Democracy Act, restore support for independent media and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and push for the appointment of a Special Envoy for Belarus. A separate meeting was held with representatives of the U.S. Department of State, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Smith and officials responsible for human rights and religious freedom. Among other responsibilities, Smith is actively engaged in efforts to secure the release of Belarusian political prisoners. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed her gratitude for the efforts of the new U.S. administration in facilitating the release of Andrei Kuznechyk, Yuri Zenkovich, and Alena Maushuk. She also welcomed the announcement made on May 7 regarding the release of 42 Belarusian political prisoners by the Lukashenka regime — a development made possible, in part, thanks to U.S. involvement. The other discussions covered: the appointment of a U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus; intensification of humanitarian and political efforts to free political prisoners, as well as preparation of a new support package for civil society and independent Belarusian media. Tsikhanouskaya also met with members of the Belarusian community in Washington, presenting them with awards — the Skaryna Medal and the Medal “For Dedicated Work” — in recognition of their continued efforts to support political prisoners, journalists, and the democratic movement in exile. “Belarus must be part of the U.S. strategy in the region,” Tsikhanouskaya stated. “There will be no lasting peace in Europe without a free Belarus.”

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her working visit to Riga with a high-level meeting with the Latvian parliamentary group “For Democratic Belarus.” She thanked Latvian MPs for their support of Belarusians in exile, particularly for legislative exemptions granted in their favour, as well as for their assistance to political prisoners and their principled stance against the Lukashenka regime. As part of the visit, Tsikhanouskaya held talks with the Speaker of the Latvian Parliament and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and took part in the event “The Role of Belarus in the Political and Security Architecture of Europe: Perspectives of the Baltic Region”. During the visit, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its decision to join the International Solidarity Fund for Belarus and pledged an additional EUR 30,000 to support repressed individuals. The funds will go directly to rehabilitation, medical treatment, and other needs of former political prisoners, their families, and other victims of repression. The parties also discussed other campaigns in support of political prisoners. Tsikhanouskaya proposed initiating the signing of a memorandum between the Seimas and the democratic forces of Belarus, following the example of the document already signed with the European Parliament. Tsikhanouskaya also opened the exhibition “Art Behind Bars,” organised by the Belarusian Association in Latvia “Supolka” and the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”. In her remarks, she highlighted that art has become the soul of the Belarusian protest and a form of resistance even in imprisonment. Later, Tsikhanouskaya addressed the plenary session of the Baltic Assembly in Riga, which brought together parliamentarians from over 15 countries. In her speech, she stressed that only a democratic Belarus can be a reliable partner for Europe and a guarantor of security in the region. The visit concluded with a meeting with representatives of the Belarusian diaspora in Latvia and interviews with local and international media.

Speaking in the Bundestag during a memorial ceremony marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe, Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered a strong condemnation of Vladimir Putin and explicitly acknowledged the role of the Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples in achieving victory against the Nazism. According to the German President, the Nazi regime was defeated by “the Americans, the British, the French, and also the Red Army, which included soldiers from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other nations.” He further stated unequivocally that “the liberators of Auschwitz have become new aggressors,” describing Putin’s narratives about continuing the fight against Nazism in Ukraine as a “falsification of history.” In a clear political message by Germany, no official diplomatic representatives from Russia or the Lukashenka regime were invited to the ceremony.

The Pakistani authorities are discussing the potential for labour migration to Belarus. The issue was raised during a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, the upper house of Pakistan’s Parliament. During the session, the Minister for Overseas Pakistanis stated that Pakistani citizens could expect access to 198,000 job vacancies in Belarus, including in industry, agriculture, and construction. According to the minister, Belarus and Pakistan are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding within two months, after which Pakistani nationals will be able to begin migrating to Belarus for work. A month earlier, during a visit to Minsk by the Pakistani Prime Minister, Aliaksandr Lukashenka proposed accepting 150,000 Pakistani workers in Belarus. These plans sparked a highly polarised response in the Belarusian society, prompting Lukashenka, his officials, and state propagandists to issue public explanations of their intentions.

On May 11, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, arrived in Minsk. Both visitors are scheduled to meet with Aliaksandr Lukashenka in the coming days, including visits to showcase Belarus’s industrial potential. Talks between Lukashenka and To Lam are scheduled for Monday, May 12, with the official agenda focused on the development of strategic cooperation across key areas such as the economy, politics, and humanitarian affairs. On May 14, Lukashenka is set to hold meetings — both in narrow and extended formats — with President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe. The discussions will cover the state of bilateral cooperation, progress on existing initiatives, and new promising projects, particularly in the areas of trade, economy, and investment. According to the official press service, the Zimbabwean leader is also expected to visit several Belarusian enterprises and notable locations during his stay.

An article published on the pages of the French publication Le Monde discusses the potato shortage in Belarus. According to experts, the shortage of this vegetable is linked to state price regulations, which make potato sales on the domestic market unprofitable, pushing producers to export their goods to Russia. From January to March, prices surged by 10%. As the publication writes, for the past few months, residents of the country have been complaining that they cannot find potatoes in stores, despite it being a crucial staple in their daily diet. The dissatisfaction has reached such a level that Lukashenka publicly mentioned the shortage ahead of his trip to Moscow for the Victory Day Parade, blaming the mass export to Russia for the problem.

“Viasna” Human Rights Center reports that political prisoners in one of the colonies have been actively offered to write petitions for clemency. Such proposals had not been received in the colony for several months; everything changed since the beginning of last week.

A criminal case on charges of repeated violation of the order of organising or holding mass events was initiated against the 78-year-old activist Nina Baginskaya, who became one of the symbols of the 2020 protests. According to “Viasna” Human Rights Center, the reason for the criminal prosecution was walking with white-red-white badges on clothes and a demonstration of national symbols on the streets of Minsk in 2024. According to human rights activists, Baginskaya was taken for a psychiatric examination several times as part of the criminal investigation. Last year, Baginskaya was fined three times under an administrative charge of unauthorised picketing, which allowed a criminal case to be opened.

The authorities announced the so-called “delivery to the country” of two oppositional Belarusians, Pavel Byalyutsin, a former candidate for the Coordination Council, and Vasil Hrechikha, a soldier of the Kalinouski regiment. This was reported in the story of the state TV channel “Pervy Informacionny” (First Informational). The actions of the KGB were presented as a result of a multi-level intelligence operation. There were no direct indications of the countries where the men were abducted from. The abduction of people on the territory of other countries for the purpose of transportation to the country of origin is one of the types of transnational repression. Many types of transnational repression, including in absentia trials and threats and persecution of relatives are increasingly used by the Lukashenka regime against those who have left the country.

On the eve of the Victory Day celebration, Aliaksandr Lukashenka pardoned 42 political prisoners sentenced for “extremist crimes”. There were 18 women and 24 men among those pardoned. Of these, 13 have chronic diseases, and one has a disability. 24 convicts have minor children and two have many children. Ten persons are over 50 years old, and one has reached retirement age. The names of the pardoned persons have not been announced.

On May 9, the U.S. Embassy in Belarus issued a statement in connection with the “pardon” of 42 political prisoners. “We welcome the release of 42 political prisoners in Belarus. We view this as a positive step, and look forward to the day when all 1,200+ political prisoners in the country are free,” the statement reads.

Human rights activists received “several testimonies from various correctional colonies, where almost the entire amount of available funds was forcibly withdrawn from the personal accounts of convicts”. Changes in the legislative regulation of enforcement proceedings were introduced back in July 2021, when the restrictive norm regarding compensation by convicts for damage caused by a crime, provided for in article 108 of the Labor Code, “Limitation of the amount of deductions from wages”, was eliminated. Nevertheless, until now, money has been debited from the personal accounts of convicts to pay off lawsuits and fines with their consent only. Convicts had to write a special statement indicating the percentage of payment. Now, orders began to arrive in correctional colonies requiring the unconditional withdrawal of funds in full, not requiring the consent of the person serving the sentence. The administration of the colonies explained that now all the money coming into the account will be withdrawn immediately until the full repayment of the fine or the claim.

Former political prisoner Danuta Pyarednya, who was released at the end of last year on a “pardon”, has been evacuated from Belarus, Andrei Stryzhak, head of the BYSOL foundation, confirmed. The BYSOL evacuation team helped Pyarednya move to Poland. In July 2022, the 20-year-old student Danuta Pyarednya was sentenced to six and a half years of imprisonment for reposting an anti-war message. The young woman was accused of actions aimed at harming the national interests of Belarus and insulting Lukashenka. A fundraising campaign has been announced on the BYSOL platform to help Pyarednya settle into a new place.

The number of cases of criminal prosecution on charges of facilitating extremist activities has increased, “Viasna” Human Rights Center reported. In some cases, there was not even direct evidence of a person’s interaction with “extremists”; however, this did not stop the political persecution. The authorities continue to replenish the “extremist” and “terrorist” lists of organisations, thus not only prohibiting their activities but also criminalising any interaction with them. According to “Viasna”, at least 254 persons have already been convicted of facilitating extremist activities.

Mikita Losik, the younger brother of political prisoner Ihar Losik, has been accused of “facilitating extremist activities”. The reason was the alleged transmission of several photos of the movement of Russian military equipment in 2022 to the monitoring project Belarusian Hajun. Mikita was detained in Orsha in early April. A criminal case has been opened against him. He is being held in the Vitsebsk pre-trial detention centre. In early February, the security forces gained access to a chatbot of the Belarusian Hajun monitoring project. After that, the project announced its termination. According to BYSOL, evacuation requests in connection with the incident were received from more than 150 persons.

Telegram channels run by the Belarusian security forces reported on the punishment of Mahileu teenage girls who showed their middle fingers during the Victory Day fireworks on May 9 and posted the video on TikTok. “Due to the age (13 and 14 years old) and, probably, the lack of awareness of what was done, all the participants of the performance were brought to administrative responsibility, somewhere along with their parents,” the authors of one of the channels reported. The girls were also placed under control at the Juvenile Affairs Inspectorate.

On May 5, independent human rights experts of the United Nations called for the release of political prisoners with disabilities and serious health conditions, who were sentenced to prison sentences for various forms of civil disobedience in the context of the 2020 presidential elections. The statement was signed by Nils Muižnieks, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus; Gabriella Citroni, Chair-Rapporteur, Grażyna Baranowska, Vice-Chair, Aua Baldé, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, and Mohammed Al-Obaidi, members of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; and Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. “We are horrified by reports about appalling detention conditions, lack of proper medical care and deliberate ill-treatment of prisoners convicted in relation to the 2020 events, including persons with disabilities, and chronic and acute diseases. If these persons remain in detention under the current conditions, we have reason to fear that their health will suffer irreparable and permanent harm,” the experts said. In March 2025, there were at least seven inmates with disabilities and 78 inmates suffering chronic and grave acute diseases, who were recognised by human rights defenders as political prisoners in Belarus. According to reports, these persons do not benefit from appropriate medical care and detention conditions and are subjected to intentional ill-treatment.

The winners of the Günter Wallraff Prize for Press Freedom and Human Rights this year were the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and political prisoner Maryja Kalesnikava. The award ceremony took place on May 9 in Cologne (Germany). The Günter Wallraff Prize for Press Freedom and Human Rights is awarded by the Initiative for News Enlightenment. It is designed to “draw attention to topics and discourses that are not on the surface of international media”. The Initiative, as noted by the Belarusian Association of Journalists, which is forced to work in exile, believes that the current human rights situation in Belarus requires additional attention. The situation with freedom of the press and those activists who are currently in prisons in Belarus for their commitment to freedom and human rights has “largely disappeared from the coverage and public consciousness.“ Therefore, this year the award was given to BAJ, for its important long-term work to protect journalists and the freedom of speech, as well as to Maryja Kalesnikava, a symbolic figure who acts as a representative of many persons who sacrificed their freedom and lives for a free and democratic Belarus. “This award is another important opportunity for us to remind about 40 journalists and women journalists who are currently in Lukashenka’s prisons for their profession. The demand to release media workers should be heard on all international platforms, because these people are being held hostage for their work. There are at least 1,200 political prisoners in the centre of Europe, including 40 journalists,” Barys Garetsky, Deputy Chair of the BAJ, commented.

Georgia has denied entry to another Belarusian activist, Dzmitri Grynkevich who had resided in Georgia and was returning from a trip to another country . The reasons for the refusal are unknown. In 2019-2024, Georgia did not satisfy a single application for asylum (refugee status or humanitarian status) from Belarusians, according to the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. Within the same period, three Belarusians were deported from the country. In September 2024, Belarusian opposition journalist and activist Andrei Myaleshka and his underage daughter were not allowed into Georgia when they were returning from a trip to Poland. Myaleshka was denied entry on the basis of ”other reasons”.

In June 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) will hold its annual conference, including a special session on Belarus to follow up on recommendations from the ILO Governing Body in June 2023 under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution in response to Belarus’s failure to comply with its human rights obligations as an ILO member. This includes requesting Belarus to receive an ILO mission and to demonstrate how, particularly in light of the current arbitrary arrests and other repression of workers and employers, it is upholding its obligations under ILO conventions on freedom of association, the right to organize, and collective bargaining. ILO constituents (states, employers, and workers) will also be asked to consider what appropriate measures they have taken or could take with respect to Belarus to ensure it cannot take advantage of relations—whether economic, social, cultural, or sporting—with other ILO constituents to perpetuate or extend the violations of workers’ rights. “The ILO Conference should continue its scrutiny of Belarus and support the right of Belarusian workers and entrepreneurs to operate in an environment free of governmental persecution,” Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement of May 9. “Freedom of association is one of the ILO’s fundamental principles, and freedom of expression goes hand in hand with it; both are being decimated in Belarus. Belarusian authorities have retaliated against companies and their workers that supported peaceful anti-government protests or spoke out about human rights violations. They also targeted exiled Belarusian entrepreneurs who denounced repression or participated in the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad,” he stated.

In early May, Lukashenka’s propagandists celebrated their self-proclaimed professional holidays — Press Day (May 5) and Radio and TV Workers’ Day (May 7) — with characteristic pomp. Their boss did not stand aside either. The Belarusian dictator called Press Day a holiday for “true patriots devoted to journalism and publishing,” claiming they help “solve pressing problems” and create a “truthful chronicle of modern Belarus.” Lukashenka expressed confidence that the state-run television and radio stations under his control “shape the information agenda and the internationally recognised image of sovereign Belarus,” while also producing “high-quality national content watched, listened to, and loved by millions.” Coincidentally or not, around the same time, the “First Informational” channel aired propaganda pieces focused on two Polish citizens currently held in Belarusian prisons. These broadcasts appear intended to exert pressure on Poland, which continues to maintain a firm stance against the Lukashenka regime. In one segment, Polish political defector Daniel Mikusek — now living in Belarus — interviewed inmate Tomasz Beroza, pushing him to admit that Polish authorities had “abandoned” him. Mikusek also urged Beroza to publicly appeal to President Duda, Prime Minister Tusk, and Foreign Minister Sikorski to take action for his release. In a similar video featuring another prisoner, Jerzy Zywolewski, Mikusek again tried to extract a statement suggesting betrayal by the Polish government, although the interviewer’s questions were cut from the final broadcast. Zywolewski, however, resisted the narrative: “I do not know what the Polish side is doing. No, why would they have abandoned me? Maybe they have not. I think every country fights for its citizens as much as its laws allow.” Meanwhile, “First Informational” issued thinly veiled threats to the regime opponents abroad, warning that “everyone is equal before the law” and that “one way or another, justice will be served.” “Soviet security agents and their modern heirs have found and will continue to find traitors to the Motherland who flee justice — wherever they may be,” one anchor declared. Propagandist Ryhor Azaronak echoed this message on Telegram: “Traitor, turncoat, Judas — know this. Your end is near. In a year, five, seven, ten — you will end up in Amerikanka [a notorious KGB prison].”

As usual, the Lukashenka regime also focused heavily on Ukraine last week. On May 7, state-affiliated expert Yuliya Abukhovich lamented in an interview with BelTA that Ukrainian politicians, “under the guise of EU integration,” had destroyed all chances of forming a union state with Belarus and Russia. “According to recent statements from European leaders, Ukraine has no future in either the EU or NATO. What remains of Ukraine today? All land under Ukrainian control has long been sold to Western corporations. The young generation has been nearly wiped out. And our President regrets that such a country has been reduced to dust,” she said.

The week’s central theme, however, was the 80^th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. As expected, the regime’s leading voice on the matter was Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow as Putin’s guest but returned to Minsk the same day to oversee the parade in Minsk. On May 6, ahead of the holiday, Lukashenka harshly rebuked those who think it is time to move on from WWII commemorations: “No, my dears, it is not enough! Not enough because we do this to prevent history from repeating. I said it before in Khatyn: If we forget the road to our monuments, to Khatyn, it will all come back to us.” He added that foreign powers are “terrified” that Russia and Belarus still honour their ancestors’ heroism. According to him, today’s Russian soldiers, who supposedly “sacrifice their lives to fight Nazism,” are continuing their ancestors’ legacy. He reiterated that the “war for minds and hearts” is already underway in the media, and that any erasure of historical memory would signal the beginning of a new war.

Lukashenka also delivered multiple speeches last week projecting “strength and stability”. At the opening of a new exhibition centre on May 8, he boasted that, despite “sanctions aimed at suffocating Belarus,” the country continues to function and create “unique structures of the future.” He called on every citizen to diligently do their job, promising order if everyone “stays in their lane.” “As President, I will handle my responsibilities. The government will focus on the economy, the administration on politics and diplomacy. The system is in place — it must run smoothly.” He admitted to having “stayed in power a bit long” but claimed to have brought in a “new generation” of leaders — patriots who want to preserve the country “not even for themselves, but for their children.” He again pushed his favourite argument about Belarusian “stability”: “It is peaceful, quiet here. No drones flying overhead—or if they are, they flew in by mistake. The war is nearby, but we live in a good, peaceful country. We must preserve it.” Addressing concerns over his alliance with Putin, he added: “We are not planning to join any union. We will always stand beside [Russia]. But to do that, we must remain interesting to our allies.”

In Moscow on May 9, Lukashenka lavished praise on the parade: “I have seen every Russian parade, and this was the strongest. Some people were critical, saying maybe there was not enough equipment — especially aircraft. But you understand, this is wartime. No need to pull hardware from the front lines just to show it off. They showed the new models. Well done. We know them — we have bought such equipment from Russia.” Asked by NBC whether Putin should agree to a truce in Ukraine, Lukashenka responded: “President Putin owes no one anything. Understand that first. As for a ceasefire — Russia has long been ready not just for a truce, but for peace. The issue is not with Russia. Once the Americans and Ukrainians decide they want peace, the Europeans will fall in line — and peace will come.” He also emphasized the significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s presence in Moscow: “This is not just symbolic. It is critical for future peace. It means China and Russia will continue to grow and strengthen their alliance.” According to Lukashenka, the U.S. sees this alliance as dangerous “because it cannot be broken.” Xi’s visit, he says, shows that China firmly stands with Russia, “and the world must get used to that.”

Speaking at the parade in Minsk, Lukashenka again lashed out at the West. He accused Western elites of being “incapable of learning” and claimed that the EU had morphed from an economic union into a “totalitarian military-political bloc with openly revanchist ambitions.” He alleged that Brussels is turning Poland and the Baltics into launchpads for attacks on the Eastern front of NATO, and criticized plans by Warsaw and Vilnius to lay explosive minefields on the Belarusian and Russian borders. Claiming that the world now faces “the monstrous threat of a resurgent European fascism,” Lukashenka warned Western leaders not to misinterpret Belarus’s “peaceful rhetoric.” He promised that his regime would “do everything necessary — and more — to strengthen the nation’s defence and maintain combat readiness at a level that ensures our sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He ended his speech with a populist jab, seemingly directed at Western officials: “Belarusians will no longer live under the whip or wear bast shoes.”

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iSANS team