Updated at 13:53,23-12-2024
Belarusian authorities start preparing for 2015 presidential campaign
The Belarusian leadership has started to prepare for the presidential election in 2015 by probing issues that could be popular among society and could take central stage in Lukashenko’s campaign. read more 
Belarus may introduce forced labour to fight sponging
On 20 October the government announced the plan to introduce punishment for sponging ('tuneyadstvo’). It was practiced in Soviet times and it may return to Belarus again. About 10% of population able to work do not pay taxes although the official unemployment rate is only 0,5%. read more 
Belarusian authorities consider alternative to “Russian World”
The Kremlin’s aggressive international policy is prompting Belarus to reconsider her national project in order to neutralise the influence of “Russian World” ideas on Belarusian society. The Belarusian authorities seek to consolidate society around the idea of Belarus’ independence and read more 
Belarusian economy cannot withstand salaries above USD 600 per month
In September 2014, wages in Belarus fell below USD 600. Poor diversification of Belarusian exports makes wage growth impossible due to problems with sales on the Russian market. In addition, the economic authorities in Belarus are no longer obliged to demonstrate the economy’s social achievements read more 
The Russian air force base in Belarus: getting the facts straight
Last week Chief of the Russian Air Force Viktor Bondarev announced that a Russian airbase would be established in Babruysk in 2016. An article from the Moscow Times on expanding the Russian air force presence abroad, subsequently reprinted in the Guardian, painted a rather dramatic, yet not read more 
Opposition’s negotiations over single candidate nomination are futile
The Belarusian opposition has not chosen a single candidate for the 2015 presidential elections due to the lack of a clear leader. read more 
UK Ambassador Bruce Bucknell on Belarusian identity, business climate, education and Visas
Belarus Digest interviewed Bruce Bucknell, British Ambassador to Belarus who has been serving in Minsk since July 2012. He also runs a blog about his work in Belarus. read more 
Belarus at the United Nations: resentment, bragging and anti-Western rhetoric
Three weeks ago Belarus Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makei presented the country's multilateral initiatives in the general debate of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly. The United Nations remains Belarus' preferred tool for promoting its foreign policy initiatives and a source of development read more 
Belarus moves towards full-scale border control with Russia
In a somewhat uncharacteristic move, Belarus started working on a full-scale border guard on the Belarusian-Russian border. read more 
The Belarusian university in exile needs more than a new rector
On 30 September, Professor Anatoli Mikhailov left his post as rector and became the president of the European Humanities University (EHU) - a Belarusian university in exile. read more 
The Belarusian opposition: recovering from 2010, preparing for 2015
Everyone knows that the Belarusian opposition has had little chance of being elected since the late 1990s. Repression against the opposition continues to turn up more frequently in the news than their own actions, particularly given the Western public's palate for news from the "last read more 
Belarusians should forget about subsidies for housing and communal services
By 2016, the government plans to stop subsidising electricity, gas and some other utility tariffs for the population. read more |
