Increasing Human Rights Violations Since 2020 Draw Attention
July 21, 2021– Belarus’ reputation as a repressive nation has gotten even worse. Here’s why.
On a trip to Lithuanian in 2005, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice referred to the former Soviet republic of Belarus as “the last remaining true dictatorship in the heart of Europe.” It angered officials in Belarus at the time. The administration of President Alexander Lukashenko asserted that the country’s future is “determined by the nation’s people.” Sixteen years later, the country is still ruled by Lukashenko. And he rules it with an iron fist.
East Or West?
Five years ago, Lukashenko faced a difficult decision: Partner with Russia, his closest ally, or apply to join the European Union. Belarus decided not to choose either.
“If the partners which we’re in dialogue with try to insist that we have to choose between Russia, Poland, or the EU, we don’t want to be put in this position,” Lukashenko said in 2016 during a meeting with an EU minister.
Since then, however, the country’s position has increasingly tilted toward Russia. As a former Soviet Republic and a close neighbor to Russia, that relationship is not surprising.
It’s the country’s treatment of its people that has drawn the ire of the democratic world.
Grave Human Rights Abuses
Under Lukashenko’s leadership — and especially since the disputed 2020 election, Belarus has committed serious human rights violations.
The Belarusian government has been connected to torture, political imprisonment, forced labor, free speech repression, and more recently, the forced landing of Ryanair Flight FR4978.
Belarus’ unashamed actions against human rights has attracted the attention of several world leaders, placing its government and leaders under the microscope of international scrutiny.
Sanctions’ Likely Impact
Some observers suggest that sanctions by the EU and other countries are likely to impact decision-making in Belarus. However, in light of the fact of the close economic relationship between Russia and Belarus, the sanctions might just drive Belarus even further away from democratic norms.
Sofya Orlosky, Senior Program Manager and Eurasia Expert for Freedom House, recently spoke with the Global Economic Report in a one-on-one interview. She estimates that the current sanctions targeting businesses will have the most impact on the government. Due to Belarus’ planned economy, when businesses are negatively affected, it becomes very expensive to sustain not only for the “moneybags” livelihoods but also for the country’s entire economy.
Orlosky said the fourth round of EU sanctions are the strongest yet. “This is finally the boldness that they [EU] should’ve acted with nine months ago,” she said.
Reliance on Russia
Belarus and Russia tightened their ties over the past year. They already had integrated their militaries and created a union state. Now they are each other’s closest ally.
“I would like to emphasize once again that Belarus is not just a good neighbor but first of all our closest ally,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a July 1 forum.
So it’s no surprise that, six-term President Lukashenko turned to his neighbor for help in dealing with Western sanctions. (Those sanction came in response to the contested 2020 election and the Belarusian government’s crackdown on protestors. See Timeline below.)
Putin delegated the Russian government to assist Belarus as they face new rounds of sanctions.
“Support for Belarus against the backdrop of such stifling sanction is on the agenda, and the government has been given instructions and it is working in this regard,” Dmitry Peskvo, Kremlin spokesperson, told Reuters.
Russia’s support for Belarus has lead to sanctions and “dirty information” attacks against its government, according to Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, in June 2021 statement. “Serious external pressure is being put on both countries based on illegal unilateral ‘containment tools,'” he said.
Trade Relations
It’s noteworthy that Russia and Belarus have a mutually beneficial trading relationship.
Russia is Belarus’ top trade partner. According to the World Integrated Trade Solution, the Russian Federation has a 41 percent market-partner share with Belarus. Meanwhile, Belarus is Russia’s fourth-highest market partner. And Belarus has a 5 percent partner share in Russia’s market.
Energy Dependency
It’s more than just trade that keeps Belarus looking to Russia. Russia’s loans and mining industry are central contributors to Belarus. “It was getting cheap oil from Russia as a part of this ongoing protracted process of creating the union-state, which it refined and sold as a profit,” Orlosky said.
According to Orlosky, Lukaskenko is a “hostage to his own short-sided decisions.” Ignoring the opportunity to modernize and become a European partner made Belarus more reliant on Russia. Lushaskenko’s subordination to Russia does not go unnoticed by Putin nor the international community.
Rock and a Hard Place
Belarus finds itself again, in a conundrum. The Western sanctions are a direct threat to the country’s businesses, but its partnership with Russia is vital to the success of the economy.
“Lukaskenko is between a rock and a hard place,” Orlosky said. “For years, he was making a number of decisions that kept Belarus and the Belarusian economy dependent on Russia.”
Additional reporting on this story by Patti Mohr, additional sources: Reuters story in March 2016
Also, see our prior coverage of Belarus,
“In the Wake of Sanctions, Ties between Belarus and Russia Strengthen”
“US, EU, UK, and Canada Target Belarus Officials with New Sanctions”
“UK, US Speak Out Against Belarus’ ‘Deteriorating Human Rights Situation”
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