MAIN EVENTS IN MAY AND THE RESPONSE FROM PROPAGANDA OUTLETS
BELARUS
- In May, two “Soviet” holidays were celebrated with pomp – International Workers’ Day on May 1 and Victory Day on May 9. Anti-Western sentiment and re-Stalinization saw an uptick in Belarusian state-controlled media and television channels.
- On May 9, Lukashenka attended a military parade in Moscow dedicated to Victory Day. The trip was presented by propagandists as an act of incredible valor and courage, like a trip to a frontline region.
- In May, YouTube blocked Radio International Belarus, the “foreign voice” of the Lukashenka regime. According to propagandists, the West is attempting to cut off the flow of “alternative opinions” from Belarus.
- On May 15, American preacher Franklin Graham visited Lukashenka. In our reviews, we emphasize that visits by foreign dignitaries, officials, and celebrities to Minsk do nothing but boost the dictator’s approval ratings and effectively serve the regime’s propaganda purposes.
- Strategic nuclear exercises involving Russian military personnel were held in Belarus. Most of the propaganda media commentary during this period boiled down to the assertion that Belarus was forced to defend itself against a hostile West.
- On May 26, Emmanuel Macron called Alexander Lukashenka and tried to warn the Belarusian dictator against Belarus’ possible involvement in military operations in Ukraine. Propaganda media presented Macron’s call as another victory for Belarusian diplomacy and a breakthrough in international isolation.
UKRAINE
- On May 19, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Judging by the outraged reaction of the propaganda outlets, Kyiv’s recognition of the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces as the contact person for Belarus dealt a blow to the regime’s pride.
- Also in May, propagandists discussed Kyiv’s statements about the growing threat from Belarus and Lukashenka’s offer to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
ARMENIA
- Lukashenka and his propagandists are participating in a massive pressure campaign against Yerevan together with Russia. The Belarusian dictator is echoing Putin’s threats towards Yerevan. Specifically, he has threatened a «Ukrainian scenario» if Armenia chooses a European path.
WESTERN COUINTRIES
- In May, propagandists claimed that the West – especially Poland and the Baltic states – was preparing to attack Belarus.
- Another claim was that the West is in a state of deep economic crisis that will soon lead to its collapse.
You can read or download the whole monitoring of Belarusian propaganda (May 2026) at this link.
Материал доступен на русском языке: Дезинформация и пропаганда в Беларуси. Аналитический обзор за май 2026 года
