Latest news with #Belarusian
The Hill
40 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Belarus courts the west as its opposition keeps fighting
On June 21, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, an authoritarian who has ruled the nation since 1994, freed 14 political prisoners, including the husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. This happened hours after Lukashenko received U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in the capital of Minsk. The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski — known as ' Minsk's number one political prisoner,' who had received the regime's harshest verdict of 18 years — underscores the high-profile nature of the gesture. Kellogg's visit was not his first. On Feb. 12, soon after his initial trip to Belarus, the authorities pardoned three political prisoners, including an American citizen. The June amnesty therefore builds on a pattern linking each wave of releases to Kellogg-brokered diplomacy. The end of the isolation of the Lukashenko regime, however, does not necessarily mean abandonment of Belarusian opposition. Every year since she emerged in 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has used major international platforms — from long-form journalism and television interviews to speeches at parliaments, security conferences and her own social channels — to repeat the same demand: freedom for all Belarusian political prisoners. The consistency of that message underlines that freeing everyone, not a token few, is non-negotiable for the democratic movement she leads. Posting on social media, Tsikhanouskaya thanked President Trump, Kellogg and other partners for securing her husband's freedom. She added, 'We're not done,' and urged that the remaining 1,186 political prisoners be released as well, a demonstration that the fight against the regime will persist. With so many political prisoners still behind bars, Lukashenko's selective pardons fall far short of systemic change. Yet they signal a calculated bid to shed pariah status and rebalance Belarus's dependence on Russia and Vladimir Putin. Belarus is the world's third-largest producer of potash, a key component of fertilizer, but sanctions and Lithuania's 2022 ban on its using the port of Klaipeda have cut it off from Western buyers. Almost all Belarusian potash now travels by rail through Russia to China and other Asian customers. Because Russia controls this sole export route and competes with Belarus in the same fertilizer market, it can charge premium transit fees, squeezing Belarusian profits and deepening Lukashenko's dependence on the Kremlin. Putin's leverage helps explain why Lukashenko trades high-profile prisoner releases for talks on easing sanctions and restoring cheaper sea access. Sending Kellogg to Minsk lets Trump advertise an early foreign-policy win: a humanitarian deal, plus a possible opening for Ukraine peace talks. To pull Belarus even slightly out of Putin's orbit strengthens Trump's argument that his personal diplomacy can keep Russia in check. Over 90 percent of the potash used in the U.S. is imported. Top countries for potash exports include Canada, Belarus, China and Russia, with the last three accounting for more than 40 percent of global supply. Belarus has turned eastward since Western sanctions cut off its traditional routes: China's share of Belarus's potash sales surged from 17 percent in 2021 to more than 70 percent in 2023. President Xi Jinping hailed Lukashenko as a 'true friend' during the Beijing summit on June 4. For Trump, who has pursued a consistently hardline stance toward Beijing, the June deal that freed Tsikhanouski also serves as proof that his direct, transactional diplomacy can peel partners away from Beijing while advancing U.S. security aims — whether that is diversifying fertilizer supply chains or kick-starting Ukraine peace talks. While economic and political calculations may shape how the Trump administration engages with Lukashenko, they do not equate to an end of international criticism of the Lukashenko regime or support for the Belarusian opposition. On March 27, the EU added 25 more officials and seven entities to its Belarus list of 310 individuals and 46 entities under asset freezes and travel bans, keeping Belarus under the same scrutiny as before the prisoner-release diplomacy began. High-level political platforms remain open to Tsikhanouskaya and her allies, and foreign legislatures and multilateral bodies still push accountability. This international pressure helps to keep the opposition's cause alive and ensures that the struggle for democracy in Belarus still has external backing. Tatsiana Kulakevich is an associate professor of instruction in research methods and quantitative analysis at the University of South Florida.
The National
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Jack McConnell, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf to feature at festival
Jack McConnell, who served as first minister from 2001 to 2007, Nicola Sturgeon, 2014 to 2013, and Humza Yousaf, from 2023 to 2024, will all feature at events part of the the Beyond Borders Scotland festival. The 15th Beyond Borders International Festival will take place from August 23-24 at Traquair House, Scotland's oldest inhabited house. The festival builds on Scotland's heritage, with a programme of cultural events, exhibitions, visual arts performances and panel discussions. McConnell and local student Beth Lapsley will join former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths his latest ventures to combat further conflict and chaos in global politics and war. READ MORE: Will John Swinney surprise us with a courageous election manifesto? Sturgeon will discuss her new memoir, Frankly, with journalist Allan Little. Elsewhere, Yousaf will speak with Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot and award-winning Gazan photographer Mohammed Salem about the future of Gaza and the realities of life during genocide over the last eighteen months. Jeremy Corbyn will also reflect on life as a now independent MP, general David Richards and professor Huw Strachan will speak on Britain's military on the global stage, and veteran BBC correspondent, Jim Naughtie, will host a panel to talk about the state of the UK and the world. Medicines San Frontier/Doctors without Borders chief Chris Lockyear will later speak about the future of aid amongst UK and US government cuts. Debut writers Sam Dalrymple and Phoebe Greenwood join the programme, while attendees can also hear from historian Willie Dalrymple, Moin Mir, and Professor Murray Pittock. Outside the main tent, events feature poetry and literary strolls with MSP Alastair Allan, a storytelling walk with Mary Kenny, a foraging walk led by local environmentalist Fi Martinogya, and a magical musical journey through Ukrainian history, music, and culture with Nigel Osborne in the Traquair forest. Music will come from Barbara Dickson, local trad musician Kirsty Law, and Latin American bands Los Chichanos and Dias Brazil. There will also be four art exhibitions, including an immersive portrait installation of Belarusian political prisoners in the maze by artist Xisha Angelova, traditional Belarusian and Palestinian dance workshops, and film screenings curated by the Britain Palestine Project. Tickets are on sale now, with students and under-25s enjoying 50% off all events. Flexible ticket options are also available for those wishing to only attend Walled Garden events at a discounted price.
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Sabalenka withdraws from US Open tune-up event in Montreal
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has decided to skip the U.S. Open tune-up event in Montreal due to fatigue, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday. The 27-year old Belarusian's decision to sit out the July 26-August 7 Canadian Open follows her semi-final appearances at Wimbledon and Berlin and after losing in the French Open final. 'I'm looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I've decided it's in my best interest to skip Montreal,' Sabalenka said in a Tennis Canada press release. 'I'll miss my amazing Canadian fans, but I'm already looking forward to seeing you all next year. Thanks for your understanding and support it means the world to me!' Tennis Canada also said Spanish world number 10 Paula Badosa, who announced this week that she has a fresh back injury, has also withdrawn from the Canadian Open.
India Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Aryna Sabalenka skips Montreal tournament, opts for extra rest before US Open
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the National Bank Open, opting to take additional rest before beginning her preparations to defend the US Open 27-year-old Belarusian, who won her maiden US Open crown in 2024, cited fatigue following a demanding stretch on the WTA Tour. Sabalenka has reached the final of the French Open, the semi-finals in Berlin, and most recently, the last four at Wimbledon, where she was beaten by Amanda looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I've decided it's in my best interest to skip Montreal,' Sabalenka said in a statement released by Tennis Canada. 'I'll miss my amazing Canadian fans, but I'm already looking forward to seeing you all next year. Thanks for your understanding and support — it means the world to me.' The National Bank Open, a key US Open warm-up event, gets underway on 27 July. With Sabalenka now absent, her return to competition could come at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, beginning 11 August. The US Open starts on 24 August in New Director Valrie Ttreault expressed disappointment at Sabalenka's withdrawal. 'We're obviously disappointed that Aryna won't be with us this year,' she said, acknowledging the star power the world No. 1 brings to the is not the only high-profile player missing from the Montreal line-up. Spanish world No. 10 Paula Badosa has also pulled out, citing a back injury sustained earlier this month. Caty McNally (USA) and Moyuka Uchijima (Japan) have been drafted into the main draw as replacements for Sabalenka and Badosa, these setbacks, the tournament still promises to deliver high-quality tennis — and a poignant farewell. Canadian favourite Eugenie Bouchard is set to make her final appearance on home soil as she prepares to retire from professional tennis at the age of 31.- EndsTrending Reel
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Sabalenka withdraws from US Open tune-up event in Montreal
Tennis - Wimbledon - July 4, 2025 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her third round match against Britain's Emma Raducanu REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY World number one Aryna Sabalenka has decided to skip the US Open tune-up event in Montreal due to fatigue, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday. The 27-year old Belarusian's decision to sit out the July 26-August 7 Canadian Open follows her semi-final appearances at Wimbledon and Berlin and after losing in the French Open final. "I'm looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I've decided it's in my best interest to skip Montreal," Sabalenka said in a Tennis Canada press release. "I'll miss my amazing Canadian fans, but I'm already looking forward to seeing you all next year. Thanks for your understanding and support it means the world to me!" Tennis Canada also said Spanish world number 10 Paula Badosa, who announced this week that she has a fresh back injury, has also withdrawn from the Canadian Open. —Reuters
