Minsk

Lukashenko says Ukraine war will end within months, warns of world war risk

Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko claims the war in Ukraine will be over within a few months.

Lukashenko says he and Putin joke about who is the bigger aggressor over Ukraine

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko insists on close ties with Russia and Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. “In the end, we are co-aggressors,” Lukashenko says in a speech.

Laleh opens up about family, partner and upbringing in new book

In order not to become a “simplified story,” Laleh has kept quiet about her background. But in a new book, she talks about her partner, her parents, and her struggle to make it through. There just hasn’t been time for that until now.

Belarus to release 25 political prisoners in deal with US envoy, report says

Belarus will release 25 political prisoners, US envoy John Coale announced during his recent visit to the country's capital, Minsk. In exchange, the US will lift sanctions against two of the country's companies, according to the envoy.

Freelance photographer Jens Olof Lasthein receives this year's Lars Tunbjörk Prize

UN experts warn of prisoner torture in Belarusian prisons

A panel of experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council warns that prisoners, many of whom are political prisoners, are being tortured in Belarusian prisons.

Kicked out of the country, Ales Byalyatski continues to fight Lukashenko

Human rights activist Ales Byalyatski was arrested after the large protests against Aleksandr Lukashenko in connection with the 2020 Belarusian presidential election. The Peace Prize laureate is a free man - released from prison and expelled from the country after a deal with the Trump administration. Byalyatski tells TT during a visit to Sweden that active resistance in Belarus is impossible.

Poland has long suspected Hungary of tipping off the Kremlin

Hungary has been passing sensitive EU talks directly to Russia for years, The Washington Post reports. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says he has long suspected as much, but Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó calls the information "fake news."