December 2021 - Belarus Special Weapons News

Putin says Russia, Belarus plan to conduct joint military drills early next year Press TV 30 Dec 2021 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia and Belarus plan to hold another round of joint military drills early next year, amid rising tensions between Moscow and the West.
Russia, Belarus Announce Plans For More Joint Military Drills RFE/RL 30 Dec 2021 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka's proposal to hold another round of joint military drills.

Over 11,000 Migrants Entered Germany Via Belarus Route In 2021

RFE/RL

Belarusian Draft Constitutional Amendments Would Give Lukashenka Immunity RFE/RL 27 Dec 2021 -- Belarus's authoritarian leader has proposed long-awaited constitutional amendments that include his immunity from any potential prosecution and a redistribution of power to the national assembly that some analysts say he eventually plans to head.
UN Urges Belarus, Poland To Address 'Appalling Situation' Along Their Border RFE/RL 22 Dec 2021 -- The UN human rights office says that Belarus and Poland are forcing migrants and refugees back and forth across their border, often leaving them cold and with no food, clean water, or safe shelter.
Moscow on Nukes in Belarus: All Options on Table if NATO Refuses to Discuss Security Proposals Sputnik 21 Dec 2021 -- Earlier in the month, Russia rolled out a set of security proposals to the West in order to de-escalate the situation near the Ukrainian border. Among these proposals are guarantees from NATO not to deploy offensive weapons in Eastern Europe and especially Ukraine.
UN rights office calls on Belarus, Poland to address refugees' 'appalling situation' Press TV 21 Dec 2021 -- A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights office says Belarus and Poland are pushing refugees back and forth across their border and leaving them without enough food and other basic necessities.
End 'appalling' Belarus-Poland border crisis, UN rights office urges UN News 21 Dec 2021 -- Belarus and Poland must resolve the migrant and refugee crisis at their mutual border, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday, describing the on-going situation as "appalling".
UN Calls on Belarus and Poland for Better Migrant Treatment VOA 21 Dec 2021 -- The U.N. human rights office is calling on Belarus and Poland to end what it calls appalling treatment of refugees and migrants stranded along their common border and to live up to their obligations under international human rights and refugee laws.
Russian Strategic Bombers Patrol Over Belarus Amid High Regional Tensions RFE/RL 18 Dec 2021 -- Russia has sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers to patrol the western borders of ally Belarus, the authorities in Minsk say, amid heightened tensions across Eastern Europe.
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on the draft law on sanctions on Belarus under consideration in Lithuania Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 16 Dec 2021
Envoy To Belarus Says Release Of All Political Prisoners Remains Goal Of U.S. Sanctions Policy RFE/RL 16 Dec 2021 -- The unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus remains the top goal of the United States, the U.S. special envoy to Belarus, Julie Fisher, told RFE/RL after harsh prison sentences were handed down to a group of Belarusian opposition activists.
'The Dictator's Revenge': Who Are The Six Belarusians Sentenced To Major Prison Terms RFE/RL 15 Dec 2021 -- One ran a video blog that morphed into a thwarted presidential campaign. Another challenged Alyaksandr Lukashenka for the presidency of Belarus 11 years ago and has been in and out of prison for political protests. Yet another was a blogger whose Telegram channel was Belarus's second-most read.
Belarusian Court Hands Down Harsh Sentences To Tsikhanouski, Losik, Other Activists RFE/RL 14 Dec 2021 -- A court in Belarus has delivered verdicts and harsh sentences to a group of bloggers, opposition activists, and the husband of exiled opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, all of whom were rounded up by security officials before a controversial presidential election that saw authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka claim a sixth term in power despite widespread belief that the vote was rigged.
The Politically Motivated Convictions of Belarusian Opposition Figures US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2021 -- The United States condemns today's politically motivated convictions of Belarusian opposition figures Syarhey Tsikhanouski, Mikalai Statkevich, Radio Liberty journalist Ihar Losik, and others in judicial proceedings that do not conform to the rule of law.
U.S. Blacklists Two Belarusian Prison Officials Over 'Torture, Cruel Treatment' Of Detainees RFE/RL 10 Dec 2021 -- The United States has slapped visa bans on the heads of Minsk's notorious Akrestsina detention center for their involvement in "gross violations" of human rights following last year's "fraudulent" presidential election that handed authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth consecutive term in office.
'No Bomb Threat:' Polish Probe Into Ryanair Diversion Dismisses Belarusian Account RFE/RL 09 Dec 2021 -- A Polish investigation has established that there was "no bomb threat" on a Ryanair plane that made an emergency landing in Minsk earlier this year, allowing Belarusian authorities to arrest opposition blogger Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend.s
UK to provide engineering support to Poland amid border pressures UK MOD 09 Dec 2021 -- 140 military engineers are deploying to Poland to provide specialist support in response to the pressures from irregular migration at the Belarus border.
U.K. To Send Army Engineers To Poland Amid 'Migration Pressure' From Belarus RFE/RL 09 Dec 2021 -- Britain says it will send 140 military engineers to NATO ally Poland this month to provide support at its border with Belarus, where the West says Minsk is orchestrating on ongoing migration crisis.
UK Defence Ministry Says Will Send 140 Military Engineers to Poland Over Migration Crisis Sputnik 09 Dec 2021 -- The UK will send 140 military engineers to Poland to help the country suffering from "irregular migration at the border with Belarus," the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday,
Czech Troops To Be Deployed In Poland To Guard Belarusian Border RFE/RL 08 Dec 2021 -- The Czech government has approved the deployment of up to 150 soldiers to help Poland stop migrants entering from Belarus, amid on ongoing crisis on the European Union's eastern flank that the West has accused Minsk of orchestrating.
Belarus Retaliates To Western Sanctions With EU, U.S. Food Import Ban RFE/RL 07 Dec 2021 -- The regime of authoritarian Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka says it will ban a wide range of food imports from European Union members states, the United States, and other countries starting next year in retaliation for sanctions imposed against Minsk.
Minsk Introduces Embargo on Some Goods in Response to Western Sanctions Sputnik 07 Dec 2021 -- Belarus is introducing embargo on a wide range of goods from countries applying sanctions against official Minsk from January 1, 2022, the Belarusian government said on Tuesday.
Lithuanian Lawmakers Extend State Of Emergency At Belarusian Border RFE/RL 07 Dec 2021 -- Lithuanian lawmakers have extended the state of emergency at the Baltic nation's border with Belarus and at camps hosting migrants who arrived from there as it tries to stem the flow of people into the European Union through the bloc's eastern flank.
Belarus Summons Ukrainian Military Attache Over Alleged Airspace Violation RFE/RL 05 Dec 2021 -- The Belarusian Defense Ministry has summoned Ukraine's military attaché to protest what the ministry said were "increasing violations" of Belarus's airspace by Ukrainian aircraft.
Belarus' Defense Ministry Hands Note to Ukraine's Diplomat Over Air Border Crossings Sputnik 05 Dec 2021 -- A military attache of the Ukrainian Embassy in Belarus was summoned to the country's Defense Ministry on Sunday, where he received a note of protest over Ukraine entering Belarus' air space, the ministry said.
Belarusian FM: Minsk is ready to end confrontation with West Press TV 04 Dec 2021 -- Belarus is ready to end confrontation with Western nations, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei has said, adding that Minsk has made firm proposals to that effect.
Belarus Alleges Border Violation By Ukrainian Military Helicopter RFE/RL 04 Dec 2021 -- Belarus's border authority has alleged, without producing evidence, that a Ukrainian military helicopter flew up to a kilometer into Belarusian territory, underscoring increasingly tense bilateral relations as Minsk and its ally Moscow test Western resolve in the region.
Belarus blasts West over fresh sanctions, vows retaliation Press TV 03 Dec 2021 -- The Belarusian foreign ministry blasts the West for bringing the country under fresh sanctions after accusing Minsk of stoking a migrant crisis.
Belarus Threatens 'Harsh' Response After EU And Allies Expand Sanctions RFE/RL 02 Dec 2021 -- The European Union, the United States, and key Western allies have further expanded their sanctions against Belarus's political and economic elite over alleged antidemocratic behavior, rights violations, and the exploitation of migrants by strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime.
EU agrees on more sanctions against Belarus over migrant crisis Press TV 02 Dec 2021 -- Diplomats of the European Union (EU) have agreed to add 28 individuals and bodies to a list of sanctions against Belarus, repeating claims that Minsk is luring migrants to the border with Poland in retaliation for existing EU sanctions.
US, EU, UK and Canada Announce New Belarus Sanctions VOA 02 Dec 2021 -- The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada have announced a new round of sanctions against Belarus officials and entities, citing the government's "ongoing attacks on democracy, human rights, and international norms, and for their brutal repression of Belarusians both inside and outside the country," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
Accountability for the Lukashenka Regime's Continued Acts of Repression and Disregard for International Norms US Dept. of State 02 Dec 2021 -- In coordination with international allies and partners, today we are taking additional measures to raise the cost on Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his regime for their ongoing attacks on democracy, human rights, and international norms, and for their brutal repression of Belarusians both inside and outside the country.
Joint Statement on December 2 Sanctions in Response to the Situation in Belarus US Dept. of State 02 Dec 2021 -- The text of the following statement was released by the United States of America, Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom.
UK imposes further sanctions to hold Lukashenko regime to account for human rights violations in Belarus UK FCDO 02 Dec 2021 -- The UK imposed more sanctions in response to the Lukashenko regime's continued disregard for international law, and ongoing human rights violations in Belarus.
Treasury Expands Sanctions Against Belarusian Regime with Partners and Allies US Treasury 02 Dec 2021 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in response to the Lukashenka regime's blatant disregard for international norms and the wellbeing of its own citizens, is designating 20 individuals and 12 entities and identifying three aircraft as blocked property pursuant to Executive Orders (E.O.) 14038 and 13405.
Belarusian KGB Accused Of Using Fake Social-Media Accounts To Inflame Migrant Crisis RFE/RL 02 Dec 2021 -- Facebook's parent company, Meta, says it has removed dozens of fake social-media accounts "linked to the Belarusian KGB" that were used to inflame an ongoing migrant crisis on the border between Belarus and Poland.
Poland Maintains Restrictions On Access To Border With Belarus RFE/RL 01 Dec 2021 -- Poland has extended a controversial state of emergency that allows the government to continue restricting access to its border with Belarus to everyone except people who live, work, or study in the designated zone.
EU Reportedly Approves Fresh Sanctions On Belarus Over Migrant Crisis RFE/RL 01 Dec 2021 -- EU ambassadors on December 1 agreed on a fifth sanctions package against Belarus that will add 17 people and 11 entities in response to what the bloc considers Minsk's orchestration of a migrant crisis on its border, diplomats said.
Kremlin Downplays Lukashenka's Gas Threat As Poland Summons Belarus Attaché RFE/RL 01 Dec 2021 -- The Kremlin has downplayed a renewed threat by Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka to cut Russian gas supplies to the European Union in response to Poland's possible move to shut down its border with Belarus over an ongoing migrant crisis.
Belarus to halt Russian energy flow to Europe amid tensions with Poland Press TV 01 Dec 2021 -- Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko says his government will suspend Russian energy flows to Europe in response to Poland's closure of the border with his country amid a migrant crisis.
Homes Of Journalists, Rights Activists Searched Across Belarus RFE/RL 01 Dec 2021 -- MINSK -- Belarusian law enforcement officers have searched the homes of several journalists and rights activists across the country as a crackdown on civil society and dissent continues more than a year after a disputed August 2020 presidential election that authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka claims to have won.

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December 2021 - Belarus Special Weapons News