Latest Articles about politics
Lukashenka’s 30th Presidential Anniversary Highlights Belarus’s Political Divide
Executive Summary: Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka celebrated the 30th anniversary of his rule on July 10, highlighting his enduring influence in Belarusian politics as the country’s only president since independence. Lukashenka’s power relies on pro-Russian support against pro-European factions, which he claims necessitates authoritarian control.... MORE
OSCE Declares ‘Decolonization of Russia’ as Necessary for Peace
Executive Summary: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe declared that the “decolonization of the Russian Federation is a necessary condition for sustainable peace” and that Russia is pursuing a “policy of genocide” in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine did... MORE
Lukashenka’s Hold on Power in Belarus Unclear as Election Season Approaches
Executive Summary: This month marks 30 years since Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka came to power. In the coming months, a new presidential campaign will begin, leaving many questioning whether he will run again due to his age and overall health. Possible regime change and democratic... MORE
Belarus Becomes First European Member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Executive Summary: Belarus officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the July summit in Astana, becoming the first European country to join. Minsk hopes to use SCO membership to synchronize the development of the north-south and east-west transit corridors, amplify its increasingly vocal anti-sanctions... MORE
Recent Developments in Belarus Offer Potential Opportunity to West
Executive Summary: As part of Belarus’s Independence Day festivities, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka presented an amnesty plan to release thousands of convicts and political prisoners. He also introduced a series of personnel changes that may provide an opening for future rapprochement with the West. Two main... MORE
Georgian Parliament Passes First Reading of Russian-Style Anti-LGBT Legislation
Executive summary: Following the adoption of the “foreign agents” law in Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party has adopted the first reading of a bill and 18 legislative acts restricting the rights of sexual minorities. Georgian experts believe this legislation plays on the conservative views... MORE
Incomplete ‘America First’ Recommendations for Ending Russia’s War Against Ukraine
Executive Summary: Senior advisers to former US President Donald Trump issued recommendations for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, observing that the Biden administration has lacked a strategy for Russian defeat and Ukraine is losing the long war of attrition. The recommendation of a quick transition... MORE
Moscow May Soon Do More Than Simply Restore the Death Penalty
Executive Summary: New discussions about amending the Russian Constitution to allow for the death penalty have stimulated calls for more fundamental changes in the future, including dropping the document’s commitment to multinationalism and the existing non-Russian republics. In the wake of recent terrorist attacks, doing... MORE
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov’s Team Sees New Players
Executive Summary: The Russian Defense Ministry has seen numerous new appointments over the past few months, including the May appointment of new Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and the replacement of ten of 12 deputy defense ministers. These replacements are erratic and are rife with nepotism... MORE
Budapest’s Use of Hungarian Issue in Ukraine Helps Orbán and Moscow, Hurts Kyiv and Chisinau
Executive Summary: Budapest has long been concerned about the status and treatment of ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring countries and, most recently, has been more outspoken in defense of those Hungarians living in Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has elevated that defense to the... MORE