The Kremlin offered support for the Belarusian economy by enabling Belarusian enterprises to participate in the Russian import substitution programme. read more

Amid harsh austerity measures on the labour market, the Belarusian authorities control the situation and are ready to prevent protest activity among workers. read more

In 2015, in the view of the presidential elections, the Kremlin hopes to take control over Belarus’ customs border in exchange for financial aid. read more

In February, the National Bank was able to reverse the negative dynamics with regard to people’s deposits. read more

On March 3, in Moscow, Russian president Vladimir Putin presented his Belarusian counterpart Aliaksandr Lukashenka with the Order of Aleksandr Nevsky award. Ostensibly it marked his work in international cooperation in the service of the Russian Federation, linked perhaps to his hosting of the read more

On 27 February, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry (MFA) released a report provocatively titled “The Most Resonant Human Rights Violations in Certain Countries.” read more

The Belarusian authorities count on Russia’s financial assistance within the Belarus-Russia Union State, which will cover the costs of servicing the public debt and maintaining economic stability during the presidential campaign in Belarus. In addition, the Belarusian authorities will attempt to read more

The average monthly salary in Belarus has reduced to USD 400. In 2015, the authorities changed their usual strategy of sharp pay-rises to the population before the elections. Wage cuts have somewhat improved economic stability in the country, however full stabilisation is only possible when Belarus read more

The year 2015 will herald a new presidential election in Belarus, certainly by the fall, and perhaps as early as March. It will be the fifth presidential election since the introduction of a national Constitution in 1994, and will mark Alexander Lukashenka’s 21st year in power. read more

On 23 February Belarus and other post-Soviet countries celebrated the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland and the Day of Armed Forces. A minute of silence commemorates those who died defending their country. read more

In 2015, Belarus has to repay a sizable amount of her public debt; she therefore has requested a loan from Russia. A USD 2.5 billion Russian loan will be insufficient to cover Belarus’ outstanding debt and enable her to ensure financial stability in the election year; meanwhile, Russia currently read more

Official Minsk is trying to become an active participant in the settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, whose role would go beyond the ‘technical’ assistance in organising talks. read more