In the third quarter of 2025, Belarusian propaganda narratives developed in the following directions:
BELARUS
- On the domestic political front, propaganda continues to focus on strengthening Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s autocratic rule, authority, and personality cult. Propaganda uses ideological holidays as a pretext for expressing gratitude to the ruler.
- In the foreign policy direction, the need for a strategic alliance with Russia and a close partnership with China is being increasingly promoted. The state media enthusiastically places Belarus on a par with these two dictatorial regimes and praises Lukashenka for his ability to negotiate with Putin and Xi Jinping.
- As before, the main target of the regime’s propaganda operations are representatives of Belarusian democratic forces. The Belarusian KGB and other security agencies use propagandists in operations to discredit and intimidate dissidents who have left the country for fear of political repression or who remain inside the country. One of the most dangerous methods is to put pressure on those who have left the country through their relatives, for example, by recording “repentant videos.” Propagandists are also used to publicly disclose the personal data of Belarusians who have left the country.
- During the period under review, several groups of political prisoners were pardoned thanks to direct contact between representatives of the U.S. president and the Belarusian ruler and in exchange for the easing of sanctions. Propagandists celebrated the exchange as a “profitable deal” and called the release of political prisoners “getting rid of trash.”
RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE
- The Lukashenka regime continues to provide unconditional support for Russian aggression against Ukraine, including ideological support. Belarusian propaganda continues to spread extremely hostile narratives towards Ukraine and Ukrainians.
- Amid obvious failures and growing losses in the Russian army, a classic propaganda technique is being used to “whitewash guilt” – shifting responsibility for the war from the aggressor to the victim. Ukraine is also being accused of committing the same thing that Russia itself is doing – committing serious war crimes against the civilian population.
- The propaganda machine has finally decided on Donald Trump’s place and role regarding the war in Ukraine: the American president is not on the side of Russia and Belarus. The state media now write about him with disappointment and irritation.
- At the same time, the regime is increasingly expressing concern about the war that has been going on near the Belarusian border for more than three years and is calling for peace talks. Lukashenka is extremely interested in regaining his status of a “peacemaker” and, with Putin’s permission, is offering himself as a “negotiator,” which is constantly rejected by the Ukrainian side.
ANTI-WESTERN NARRATIVES
- The image of the “collective West” continues to be exploited as the main source of threats to Belarus and its alliance with Russia. According to the propaganda narratives, the West seeks to weaken, attack, and seize the western lands of Belarus.
- Poland ranked first on the list of “external enemies” in August and September. The reason for this was a series of high-profile events, such as the intrusion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, the Zapad-2025 military drills in Belarus, and the temporary closure of the border on the Polish side in response to all these challenges.
- Pro-Kremlin propaganda suffered a defeat in Moldova. Despite all the efforts of ideologues, including various influence operations, they failed to disrupt the victory of pro-European forces and promote pro-Russian parties in the Moldovan parliamentary election.
In general, Belarusian propaganda continues to operate on the basis of total confrontation with the opposition and the West, while simultaneously glorifying Lukashenka as the center of unity and stability for the nation, the union with Russia as a guarantee of security, and rapprochement with China as a civilizational choice. The Belarusian regime’s information campaign is accompanied by harsh militaristic rhetoric and justification of repression against “enemies inside and outside the country.”
The full quarterly analytical report on propaganda in Belarus for the third quarter of 2025 can be read or downloaded VIA THE LINK.
Материал доступен на русском языке: «Нам с диктатурой хорошо, как Адаму с Господом». Направленная на Беларусь пропаганда в третьем квартале 2025
