Tag: Alexander Lukashenko
International Organizations
Astana SCO Summit reaffirms its growing geopolitical role
The 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), chaired by Kazakhstan, took place on July 4...
Invasion of Ukraine
Prigozhin’s inglorious rebellion
Images of camouflaged gunmen seizing government buildings in a post-Soviet city were eerily reminiscent of what the world witnessed in the spring of 2014...
Invasion of Ukraine
Conflict, migration, and demography in Russia and its border regions
Despite the absence of a clear definition of “ethnic group,” the term generally refers to people with a common history, culture, and ancestry. Russians...
Belarus
A Belarusian politician, fraudster and businessman kept money in Credit Suisse
It was the last summer day of 2008. An Audi was waiting in line to leave Belarus for Poland. Petr Kalugin, a House of Representatives deputy,...
Analysis
Lukashenko’s sanctioned ally continues to do business in the EU
In 2020, businessman Alexander Shakutin came under EU sanctions for supporting Belarus' dictator Alexander Lukashenko.The activities of his companies in the EU were supposed...
Refugees & Migration
Unexpected migration woes
Brussels has, in the case of the migrant problem, proven that the EU's feckless bureaucrats are persuasive only when they carry a big stick against those that openly mock them.
Belarus
How a secret Lithuanian partner helped a Belarusian oligarch make billions
Chyzh and Tomaszevski earned more than $5 billion in Belarus from the manipulation of customs codes for petroleum products by marking them as “solvents”.
Columns
Boosting EU-Ukraine rail links is crucial for a common & prosperous future
Facing heavy losses on the frontlines, a weakened and desperate Russia has cynically ramped up strikes on civilian power infrastructure in Kyiv and other...
Europe & Eurasia
The Kremlin seeks to exploit growing wariness over refugees in Europe
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than 7 million Ukrainian refugees have left the country till mid-June. While some 1.5 million ended up in Russia,...
NATO
Why it’s time to take the Russian-led military alliance seriously
The Russian-led military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), created headlines in January 2022 after 2,500 of its troops entered Kazakhstan to assist in restoring...
Analysis
Only the West can save Georgia
“We need you back, Tim,” said nobody. “Coverage of what's happening in Georgia just isn't enough. Goddamit man, it's only Ani Chkhikvadze out there...
Belarus
Border pains: A set play by Belarus
Desperate migrants sandwiched between the Belarussian-Polish border is a nasty quagmire. It is also an impressively manufactured crisis. With threats to both EU and...
Archive
Lukashenko would not dare cut gas supplies to EU without Kremlin’s permission
Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko threatened to cut gas supplies to Europe transiting his country if the European Union imposed further sanctions in response...
Analysis
No more lip service: The EU must be more resolute vis-à-vis Russia
The first meeting between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin showed that the US is no longer letting Moscow lead it around by the nose...
Archive
Sanctions have to hurt
Can the EU topple Alexander Lukashenko, the dictator of Belarus, with new sanctions? Probably not, but after the forced landing of Ryanair Flight 4978,...
Analysis
A fiscal pandemic on the EU’s eastern border may eventually strike at the heart of Europe
The economic crisis in the European Union that was caused by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has slowly started to subside after months...
Archive
No discounts on the EU’s fundamental values
Alexander Schallenberg has been Austria's Federal Minister for European and International Affairs in the second Sebastian Kurz government since January 2020. He previously served...
Archive
European weakness and the rise of authoritarians
A diverted plane is nothing new, bomb threats may be rare but are no longer a novelty, but an armed interceptor fighter jet “escorting”...
Archive
The West must find its spine
I usually take the greatest satisfaction in having been proved right, whether it's a case of 'I told you the turning to the hotel...
Analysis
Tougher sanctions against Belarus
It was a clear act of state-sponsored terrorism. An Irish passenger plane from the Irish budget airline Ryan Air, while on its way from...
Archive
Belarus’ skyjacking of Ryanair flight to arrest dissident journalist rattles EU
ATHENS – An incident in which a Belarusian warplane intercepted a flight between EU-members Greece and Lithuania and forced it down in Minsk on...
Analysis
The soft power of big business in a former Soviet republic
The increasing isolation of Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko’s regime on the international stage raises important questions about the future of the country’s economy. As...
Armenia
Post-Soviet foibles lead to European nowhereness
Before I get into the thrust of today's business, I'd like to preface my argument by stating unequivocally that nobody can find former Soviet...
Archive
European Parliament president under criticism for not supporting Belarus’ pro-democracy movement
A leading Member of the European Parliament is organizing a debate with the aim to invalidate the decision not to open an office in...
Archive
Russia resumes oil supplies to Belarus after pricing dispute
Belarus has reached an agreement with Russia for limited oil supplies after Moscow stopped supplying crude two weeks ago amid stalled talks on strengthening...
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