Belarusian presidential election, August 2020

Summary:

Reports, analyses and information concerning to the presidential election taking place in Belarus on 9 August 2020.

Further information:

The country's President is elected directly for a term of five years using a two-round system. Incumbent Alexander Lukashenko announced a bid for a sixth term in the office, having won every presidential election since Belarusian independence in the 1990s. Analysts, pollsters and several stakeholders across the international community have long raised concerns on the elections in the country over the years.

The National Assembly set the date for the presidential election in May 2020. The months leading up to the election were marked by instability and the tightening of repression by state authorities. Protests were outlawed and opposition figures arrested. Leading figures such as Viktor Barbariko, Valeri Tsepkalo and Sergei Tikhanovski put forward their names as presidential candidates, but they were all eventually banned or prevented from running bids.

As a result, their wives brought themselves forward to stand in as candidates. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya became the face of the opposition movement in the weeks before the election, supported by Maria Kolesnikova and Veronika Tsepkalo.

The incumbent President claimed victory with over 80% of the votes, as announced by the country's Electoral Commission. However, many across the international community raised doubts over the accuracy of the numbers considering the numerous reports of fraud and the way this poll was conducted. Ms Tikhanovskaya also rejected the results. Thousands of people took to the streets across the country to protest against the outcome of the election. There were several reports of police brutality and attempts to shut down the country's telecommunications and internet access.

On 11 August, media outlets reported that Ms Tikhanovskaya was forced to leave the country following threats against her freedom and the safety of her family. The European Union issued a statement on the same day arguing the elections were "neither free nor fair". A meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council was held on 14 August to discuss the matter. Ministers called authorities to stop the violence against peaceful protests and to release those detained, reiterated that the EU did not accept the results of the election as presented by the Central Election Commission. The Council also agreed on the need to introduce sanctions against those responsible for violence, repression and the falsification of election results. On 19 August, the European Council also held a discussion on the situation in Belarus via video conference and endorsed the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council.

The mass protests across the country calling for political change, end of repression and fresh elections continued over the following weeks, despite detentions and use of force by security forces. For more on the 2020 protests in Belarus, check this follow-up ESO compilation.

Official

Official Website of Belarus: Press Centre: Presidential election 2020 in Belarus https://www.belarus.by/en/press-center/belarus-presidential-election-news

OSCE: ODIHR: Press Release, 15/07/2020: ODIHR will not deploy election observation mission to Belarus due to lack of invitation https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/457309

EU EEAS: Joint Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on the Presidential elections in Belarus, 10 August 2020 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/83935/

US Government: Department of State: Press Statament on the Presidential Elections in Belarus (10 August 2020) https://www.state.gov/presidential-elections-in-belarus/

Council of Europe: News, 10/08/2020: Presidential election in Belarus: statement by PACE President https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/presidential-election-in-belarus-statement-by-pace-president

President of Russia: Events, 10/08/2020: Greetings to Alexander Lukashenko on winning presidential election in Belarus http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/63872

OSCE: ODIHR: Press Release, 10/08/2020: ODIHR gravely concerned at situation in Belarus following presidential election https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/459664

Government of Sweden: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 11/08/2020: Joint Statement of Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers on recent developments in Belarus https://www.government.se/statements/2020/08/joint-statement-of-nordic-baltic-foreign-ministers-on-recent-developments-in-belarus/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 11/08/2020: Belarus: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the presidential elections https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/08/11/belarus-declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-presidential-elections/

United Nations: News, 12/08/2020: Belarus: UN rights chief condemns violence against protesters, calls for grievances to be heard https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1070112

EU EEAS: Blog, 13/08/2020: Belarus: violence must stop and regime must change https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/84053/

President of Estonia: Press Release, 13/08/2020: Presidents of Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland call for action on Belarus https://www.president.ee/en/meedia/press-releases/16115-presidents-of-lithuania-estonia-latvia-and-poland-call-for-action-on-belarus/index.html

Council of Europe: Newsroom, 14/08/2020: Secretary General comments on the situation in Belarus https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/secretary-general-comments-on-the-situation-in-belarus

President of Russia: Events, 15/08/2020: Telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/63893

President of Russia: Events, 16/08/2020: Telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/63894

UK Government: Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Press Release, 17/08/2020: Foreign Secretary statement on Belarusian Presidential elections https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-belarusian-presidential-elections

United Nations: News, 17/08/2020: Belarus crisis: Top UN official concerned over torture allegations https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1070322

NATO: Newsroom, 18/08/2020: NATO Secretary General discusses Belarus with President of Poland https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_177525.htm

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel, following the videoconference of the European Council members on the situation in Belarus (19 August 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_1500

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News

BELTA: 2020 Belarus Presidential Election https://eng.belta.by/all-rubric-news/viewSuzet/presidential-elections-in-belarus-48/

AP News, 08/05/2020: Belarus to hold its presidential election on Aug. 9 https://apnews.com/ad0505d1d1280ca3e3190190be855b41

Deutsche Welle, 01/06/2020: Belarus' Lukashenko outlaws protests, arrests opponents https://p.dw.com/p/3d7Id

Politico, 08/06/2020: Belarus election hopeful calls on voters to ‘conquer their fear’ https://www.politico.eu/article/belarusian-opposition-candidate-svetlana-tikhanovskaya-calls-on-people-to-conquer-their-fear/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

Deutsche Welle, 09/06/2020: Belarus prepares for tense presidential elections https://p.dw.com/p/3dXdl

BBC News, 14/07/2020: Belarus election: Hundreds protest after Lukashenko's rivals barred https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53411735

Reuters, 14/07/2020: Hundreds protest in Belarus after two main challengers barred from election ballot https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN24F10W

The Guardian, 29/07/2020: Belarus says Russian mercenaries arrested ahead of presidential election https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/belarus-says-dozens-of-russians-arrested-ahead-of-presidential-election

The New York Times, 29/07/2020: Belarus Says Russian Mercenaries Planned to Disrupt August Election https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/world/europe/belarus-russian-mercenaries-lukashenko.html

The Moscow Times, 29/07/2020: Belarus Detains 33 Russian Wagner Mercenaries Ahead of Presidential Election – Report https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/07/29/belarus-detains-33-wagner-mercenaries-ahead-of-presidential-election-report-a71014

France24, 29/07/2020: Belarus detains dozens of Russian mercenaries before election, says state media https://www.france24.com/en/20200729-belarus-detains-dozens-of-russian-mercenaries-before-election-says-state-media

Politico, 31/07/2020: In Belarus, Lukashenko faces a female challenge https://www.politico.eu/article/belarusian-leader-aleksander-lukashenko-faces-a-female-challenge-svetlana-tikhanovskaya-presidential-election/

BBC News, 31/07/2020: Belarus accuses 'Russian mercenaries' of election plot https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53592854

RTL Today, 05/08/2020: Belarus vote threatens rupture in 'brotherly' ties with Russia https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/1560340.html

TASS, 06/08/2020: Lukashenko: US passport holders among those detained in Belarus ahead of election https://tass.com/world/1186463

EurActiv, 07/08/2020: Rising star shakes up Belarus strongman’s re-election bid https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/rising-star-shakes-up-belarus-strongmans-re-election-bid/

Euronews, 07/08/2020: Ties between Russia and Belarus cool ahead of presidential elections https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/07/ties-between-russia-and-belarus-cool-ahead-of-presidential-elections

EUObserver, 08/08/2020: EU wary of violence in Belarus election https://euobserver.com/foreign/149119

Politico, 09/08/2020: Lukashenko wins Belarus election as protests sweep the country https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-exit-poll-predicts-aleksander-lukashenko-victory/

The Moscow Times, 10/08/2020: 'The People Have Been Insulted': Russia Reacts to Belarus Presidential Vote, Unrest https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/08/10/the-people-have-been-insulted-russia-reacts-to-belarus-presidential-vote-unrest-a71098

EurActiv, 10/08/2020: Poland calls for extraordinary EU summit following tainted Belarus election https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/poland-calls-for-extraordinary-eu-summit-following-tainted-belarus-election/

Reuters, 10/08/2020: Bloody clashes in Belarus as West condemns crackdown after election https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN2560CU

The Economist, 10/08/2020: Lukashenko tries to crush protests against his rigged “victory” https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/08/10/lukashenko-tries-to-crush-protests-against-his-rigged-victory

Balkan Insight, 10/08/2020: Central Europe criticizes Belarus election as demonstrations planned in Poland https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/10/central-europe-criticizes-belarus-election-demos-planned-in-poland/

BBC News, 11/08/2020: Belarus election: Second night of clashes over disputed poll https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53731514

RTÉ News, 11/08/2020: Police and protesters clash for a second day after disputed Presidential election results https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2020/0810/1158253-belarus/

The Guardian, 11/08/2020: Belarus opposition candidate rejects election result after night of protests https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/belarus-opposition-candidate-rejects-election-result-protests-svetlana-tikhanovskaya-lukashenko

BBC News, 11/08/2020: Belarus election: Opposition leader Tikhanovskaya fled 'for sake of her children' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53733330

The Independent (UK), 11/08/2020: Belarus: Opposition leader leaves country as anti-government protests claim first fatality https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/belarus-tikhanovskaya-lukashenko-fatality-a9664131.html

LRT News, 11/08/2020: Belarus' Tikhanovskaya and her children ‘safe’ in Lithuania https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1206035/belarus-election-challenger-tikhanovskaya-in-lithuania

RFE/RL, 11/08/2020: Belarusian Authorities Admit To Using Lethal Weapons Against Protesters https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-third-night-protests-thousands-detained-/30778635.html

Deutsche Welle, 11/08/2020: EU threatens Belarus with 'measures against those responsible' https://p.dw.com/p/3gok0

Politico, 11/08/2020: Leaderless protests contest Lukashenko’s grip on Belarus https://www.politico.eu/article/leaderless-minsk-protests-contest-aleksander-lukashenko-grip-on-belarus/

Euronews, 12/08/2020: Belarus: More arrests and clashes in third night of post-election protests https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/11/belarus-protesters-incited-to-change-tact-for-third-night-of-demonstrations

Swissinfo.ch, 12/08/2020: Swiss join calls to release Belarus protestors https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-join-calls-to-release-belarus-protestors/45960902

BBC News, 12/08/2020: Belarus election: Police use live fire on protesters in Brest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53748748

The Guardian, 12/08/2020: Belarus protests: more than 6,000 arrested, says interior ministry https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/12/belarus-protesters-and-police-clash-for-third-night-as-eu-threatens-sanctions

Reuters, 12/08/2020: Belarus says police fired live rounds at protesters as EU weighs sanctions https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN2581OQ

EurActiv, 12/08/2020: EU says Belarus vote not free, threatens sanctions https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/eu-says-belarus-vote-not-free-threatens-sanctions/

Reuters, 12/08/2020: Thousands stage flower protest in Belarus as EU weighs sanctions https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN2581OQ

Balkan Insight, 12/08/2020: Peaceful protests and Polish bullets in Belarus https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/12/peaceful-protests-and-polish-bullets-in-belarus/

LRT News, 12/08/2020: Lithuania readies for potential refugees from Belarus https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1206694/lithuania-readies-for-potential-refugees-from-belarus

EurActiv, 13/08/2020: Belarus starts to release prisoners as EU weighs sanctions https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/belarus-starts-to-release-prisoners-as-eu-weighs-sanctions/

BBC News, 13/08/2020: Belarus election: Women form 'solidarity chains' to condemn crackdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53761747

BBC News, 14/08/2020: Belarus election: 'Widespread torture' inflicted on jailed protesters https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53773534

The Guardian, 14/08/2020: Belarus pledges to release all protesters as evidence of beatings mounts https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/14/belarus-pledges-to-release-all-protesters-as-evidence-of-beatings-mount

Euronews, 14/08/2020: Belarus: Detained protesters 'repeatedly beaten' and abused in post-election crackdown https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/13/belarus-detained-protesters-repeatedly-beaten-and-abused-in-post-election-crackdown

Politico, 14/08/2020: EU takes first step toward Belarus sanctions https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-belarus-sanctions-first-steps/

Deutsche Welle, 14/08/2020: EU foreign ministers greenlight new Belarus sanctions https://p.dw.com/p/3gwhc

EurActiv, 15/08/2020: Belarus opposition movement gains momentum as world watches https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/belarus-opposition-movement-gains-momentum-as-world-watches/

Associated Press, 16/08/2020: Leader of Belarus rejects calls to rerun presidential vote https://apnews.com/481f01854099a22fdaa319f7bacf0a19

BBC News, 16/08/2020: Belarus: Mass protest eclipses defiant Belarus leader's rally https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53795871

TASS, 16/08/2020: Belarusian leader says won’t allow to ‘give away’ his country https://tass.com/world/1190189

Foreign Policy, 17/08/2020: European Leaders Urge Russia Not to Intervene in Belarus https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/17/lukashenko-putin-belarus-protests-europe-lithuania/

Balkan Insight, 18/08/2020: Central Europe adopts united stance against Belarus ahead of EU Meet https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/18/central-europe-adopts-united-stance-against-belarus-ahead-of-eu-meet/

The Guardian, 18/08/2020: Belarus president hints at fresh repression to keep grip on power https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/18/lukashenko-awards-medals-belarus-riot-police-kgb

EUObserver, 18/08/2020: EU leaders to warn Russia against Belarus interference https://euobserver.com/foreign/149166

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Commentary and Analysis

Wikipedia: 2020 Belarusian presidential election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Belarusian_presidential_election

IFES Election Guide: Election for President of Belarus https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3289/

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Moscow Centre, 02/06/2020: Does Belarus Election Mark Start of New Era? https://carnegie.ru/commentary/81958

Human Rights Watch, 22/05/2020: Belarus: Activists, Journalists Jailed as Election Looms https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/22/belarus-activists-journalists-jailed-election-looms

Freedom House: Press Release, 09/06/2020: Belarus: Presidential Election Campaign Marred by Repressive Tactics https://freedomhouse.org/article/belarus-presidential-election-campaign-marred-repressive-tactics

Euronews, 12/06/2020: Belarus presidential election: Will the lights go out on Lukashenko in 2020? https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/12/belarus-presidential-election-will-the-lights-go-out-on-lukashenko-in-2020

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 16/06/2020: Prepare For a Belarus Without Lukashenka? https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/prepare-belarus-without-lukashenka

Amnesty International: News, 29/06/2020: Belarus: Full-scale attack on human rights ahead of presidential election https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/06/belarus-fullscale-attack-on-human-rights-ahead-of-presidential-election/

Politico, 02/07/2020: Lukashenko’s coronavirus election https://www.politico.eu/article/aleksander-lukashenko-belarus-coronavirus-covid19-pandemic-election/

openDemocracy: ODR, 06/07/2020: Lukashenka’s mistakes bring Belarus closer to democratisation https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/lukashenkas-mistakes-bring-belarus-closer-to-democratisation/

LSE: EUROPP Blog, 10/07/2020: The 2020 presidential election in Belarus: Lukashenko’s moment of reckoning? https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2020/07/10/the-2020-presidential-election-in-belarus-lukashenkos-moment-of-reckoning/

ECFR: Commentary, 21/07/2020: An election in Belarus: How the West could support a marginalised opposition https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_an_election_in_belarus_how_the_west_could_support_a_marginalised

Euronews, 23/07/2020: Who is making sure Belarus' presidential election is free and fair? https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/23/who-is-making-sure-belarus-presidential-election-is-free-and-fair

Foreign Policy, 24/07/2020: In Belarus, an Unlikely Trio Challenges Lukashenko https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/24/belarus-unlikely-opposition-trio-challenge-lukashenko-election-protests/

OSW: Analyses, 29/07/2020: Lukashenka's difficult choices https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2020-07-29/lukashenkas-difficult-choices

The Conversation, 03/08/2020: Belarus election: why strongman Alexander Lukashenko faces unprecedented resistance https://theconversation.com/belarus-election-why-strongman-alexander-lukashenko-faces-unprecedented-resistance-142524

Euro|topics, August 2020: Election in Belarus: is this the end for Lukashenko? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/242756/

RFE/RL, 06/08/2020: Five Factors That Ensure Lukashenka Wins Every Election In Belarus https://www.rferl.org/a/five-factors-that-ensure-lukashenka-wins-every-election-in-belarus/30769963.html

Euronews, 06/08/2020: There is hope again in Belarus - even as Lukashenko muddies the election waters https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/06/there-is-hope-again-in-belarus-even-as-lukashenko-muddies-the-election-waters-view

CER: Insights, 07/08/2020: Something is stirring in Belarus https://www.cer.eu/insights/something-stirring-belarus

The Independent (UK), 07/08/2020: The presidential election in Belarus will be a choice between two very different futures for the country https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/belarus-election-2020-voting-lukashenko-svetlana-tikhanovskaya-a9652161.html

Foreign Policy, 07/08/2020: Europe Must Stand Up for Belarus https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/07/belarus-europe-elections-russia-pro-democracy-protests/

The Guardian, 10/08/2020: Revolution or repression? Belarus stands at a crossroads https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/new-leader-or-new-crackdown-belarus-has-entered-a-new-era

Deutsche Welle, 10/08/2020: Belarus protests pose a real threat to Lukashenko https://p.dw.com/p/3glFw

The Conversation, 10/08/2020: Belarus election: contested result sparks massive unrest as Europe’s ‘last dictator’ claims victory https://theconversation.com/belarus-election-contested-result-sparks-massive-unrest-as-europes-last-dictator-claims-victory-144139

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Moscow Centre: Commentary, 10/08/2020: Can Russia-West Divide Save “Europe’s Last Dictator” in Belarus? https://carnegie.ru/commentary/82447

Amnesty International: News, 10/08/2020: Belarus: Police unleash appalling violence on peaceful protesters https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/belarus-election-protests-police-crackdown/

OSW: Analyses, 10/08/2020: Mass protests in Belarus https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2020-08-10/mass-protests-belarus

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 10/08/2020: Why the Corrupt President of Belarus Deserves Sanctions https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/why-corrupt-president-belarus-deserves-sanctions

FIIA: Comment No 15, 10/08/2020: Belarus without Lukashenko: How it became a realistic scenario https://www.fiia.fi/en/publication/belarus-without-lukashenko

Euro|topics, August 2020: Protests and violence after Belarus elections https://www.eurotopics.net/en/245568/

GMFUS: Blog, 11/08/2020: Staying the Course on Belarus Is Not an Option for the United States https://www.gmfus.org/blog/2020/08/11/staying-course-belarus-not-option-united-states

OSW: Analyses, 11/08/2020: Second night of post-election protests in Belarus https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2020-08-11/second-night-post-election-protests-belarus

The Guardian, 11/08/2020: Will knocking Belarus offline save president from protests? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/11/belarus-president-cuts-off-internet-amid-widespread-protests

Human Rights Watch: News, 11/08/2020: Belarus: Violence, Abuse in Response to Election Protests https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/11/belarus-violence-abuse-response-election-protests

ECFR: Commentary, 11/08/2020: Why the EU now needs a deliberate Belarus policy https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_why_the_eu_now_needs_a_deliberate_belarus_policy

CER: Podcast, 12/08/2020: A rigged election in Belarus: Can Lukashenka cling to power? https://www.cer.eu/media/cer-podcast-rigged-election-belarus-can-lukashenka-cling-power

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 12/08/2020: Belarus Policy: Time to Play Hardball https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/belarus-policy-time-play-hardball

Foreign Policy, 12/08/2020: Why Belarus Is Not Ukraine https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/12/belarus-protests-lukashenko-not-ukraine/

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Moscow Centre: Commentary, 13/08/2020: Belarus Protests Signal the Autumn of Lukashenko’s Regime https://carnegie.ru/commentary/82473

SWP: Point of View, 13/08/2020: Between Neighbours: How Does Russia View the Election Aftermath in Belarus? https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/publication/between-neighbours-how-does-russia-view-the-election-aftermath-in-belarus/

Amnesty International: News, 13/08/2020: Belarus: Mounting evidence of a campaign of widespread torture of peaceful protesters https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/belarus-mounting-evidence-of-a-campaign-of-widespread-torture-of-peaceful-protesters/

New Statesman, 14/08/2020: The Belarus crisis is a test for Britain and the EU https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2020/08/belarus-crisis-test-britain-and-eu

The Economist, 15/08/2020: Belarus’s election was a sham. The West’s response has been feeble https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/08/15/belaruss-election-was-a-sham-the-wests-response-has-been-feeble

Euro|topics, August 2020: Protests and strikes: Lukashenko under increasing pressure https://www.eurotopics.net/en/245972/

Foreign Affairs, 18/08/2020: Belarus Goes Its Own Way https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/belarus/2020-08-18/belarus-goes-its-own-way

ECFR: Commentary, 18/08/2020: Russia’s military manoeuvres at the Belarus border – a message to the West https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_russias_military_manoeuvres_at_the_belarus_border_a_message_to_t

GMFUS: Blog, 18/08/2020: Six to-Do’s for the EU Summit on Belarus https://www.gmfus.org/blog/2020/08/18/six-dos-eu-summit-belarus

Euro|topics, August 2020: Will Putin intervene in Belarus? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/245903/

Swissinfo.ch, 19/08/2020: Crisis puts spotlight on Swiss relations with Belarus https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/crisis-puts-spotlight-on-swiss-relations-with-belarus/45978366

UK House of Commons: Library Research Briefing (No 8979), 08/09/2020: Belarus: 2020 presidential election https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8979/

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