Latest news with #anti-Lukashenko
Gulf Today
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Music scene offers release for stifled Belarus youth
Gleb Gurami believes the parties he organises in a Minsk nightclub are an outlet for young Belarusians, reeling from the exodus that followed mass protests and a political crackdown in 2020. "I think this mission of underground culture, raves, electronic music... helps a lot of people," the 39-year-old promoter told the media at the Modul Art Platform club near the Svislach River in the Belarus capital. Minsk was once renowned for its punk scene, dating back to the last years of the Soviet Union and the artistic and cultural flourishing after independence in the early 1990s. But the landscape has changed radically over the past five years. Major demonstrations against autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko in 2020 were put down by force and hundreds of thousands of Belarusians -- many of them young people -- fled abroad, particularly to neighbouring Poland. The country's most famous band, Bi-2, can de facto no longer perform in Belarus or Russia and tours internationally to audiences of exiles. Russian alternative rock band Fun Mode performs at a music club in Minsk. AFP In Belarus, many musicians have been persecuted for their support of the anti-Lukashenko protests or their opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which the Minsk government backed. Additional Western sanctions have further isolated the country. Gurami said he wants his wild club nights to "give people a chance to relax" so as to avoid "depression". "People should not have to suffer because of stories that do not depend on them, their opinions, their points of view or their preferences, especially in art and music," he said. 'Censorship' "A lot of bands split up after 2020," said singer Vadim Shulga said. His band PlemYA was founded 10 years ago and used to play in "Poland, Romania... just about everywhere". The 46-year-old said that of its original seven members, only two remain. "Now we only perform in Belarus or Russia," he said bitterly. With fewer touring opportunities, it is hard to make a living. "Abroad, we used to earn 1,000 euros ($1,800) or more" in fees per concert, compared to just "$100 to $150" now. He said the music scene in Belarus "has not disappeared" but it is hard not to be affected by the tensions in a tightly controlled society where the authorities can decide whether bands are allowed to perform or not. "There is a certain amount of censorship," said Svetlana Ramonka, a concert organiser in Minsk. A crowd member in a medieval costume poses during a concert at a music club in Minsk. AFP "Before, it was easier. Now it's a bit more complicated," she said. Invisible wall At a concert by a Russian alternative rock band in Minsk in January, organisers sold 260 tickets priced between 25 and 40 euros each. At a concert by a Russian alternative rock band in Minsk in January, organisers sold 260 tickets priced between 25 and 40 euros each. "We're delighted to see you," the singer told the crowd in the trendy bar. The youthful audience members, many with beer in hand, swayed to the music. They jumped, sang and hugged each other during an hour-and-a-half of respite from an oppressive reality. After the gig, Artyom Golovaty, a 21-year-old geography teacher and "big fan" of music, said he was pleased that "more gigs are being organised". "Those who wanted to leave have left. In any case, if there's a gap, we can always fill it," he said. Gurami said he wants to face the future with "hope", imagining a world in which Belarusian artists can once again perform in Europe and vice versa. "I hope we will manage to break down this invisible wall," he said. Agence France-Presse
South China Morning Post
26-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Lukashenko sworn in for seventh term in Belarus, tells critics ‘you have no future'
Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in Tuesday to a seventh term, and he mocked those who derided him as 'Europe's last dictator' by saying his country has more democracy 'than those who cast themselves as its models'. Advertisement 'Half of the world is dreaming about our 'dictatorship', the dictatorship of real business and interests of our people,' Lukashenko, 70, said in his inauguration speech at the Independence Palace in the capital of Minsk. Hundreds of opposition supporters living abroad held anti-Lukashenko rallies Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Belarus' short-lived independence in 1918 following the collapse of the Russian Empire. Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year, and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated January 26 election as a farce. The Belarus Central Election Commission declared he won with nearly 87 per cent of the vote after a campaign in which four token challengers on the ballot all praised his rule. Opposition members have been imprisoned or exiled abroad by Lukashenko's unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech. Advertisement Months of massive protests that were unprecedented in the history of the country of 9 million people followed the 2020 election and brought on the harsh crackdown. Over 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and independent media outlets and non-governmental organisations were closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West.
Washington Post
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Authoritarian leader of Belarus is sworn for a 7th term and tells his critics 'you have no future'
TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in Tuesday to a seventh term, and he mocked those who derided him as 'Europe's last dictator' by saying his country has more democracy 'than those who cast themselves as its models.' 'Half of the world is dreaming about our 'dictatorship,' the dictatorship of real business and interests of our people,' Lukashenko, 70, said in his inauguration speech at the Independence Palace in the capital of Minsk. Hundreds of opposition supporters living abroad held anti-Lukashenko rallies Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Belarus' short-lived independence in 1918 following the collapse of the Russian Empire. Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year, and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated Jan. 26 election as a farce. The Belarus Central Election Commission declared he won with nearly 87% of the vote after a campaign in which four token challengers on the ballot all praised his rule. Opposition members have been imprisoned or exiled abroad by Lukashenko's unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech. Months of massive protests that were unprecedented in the history of the country of 9 million people followed the 2020 election and brought on the harsh crackdown. Over 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West. Thousands of Lukashenko supporters attended Tuesday's inauguration ceremony, where he denounced his critics as foreign stooges who were at odds with the people. 'You don't and won't have public support, you have no future,' he declared. 'We have more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models.' Belarusian activists say it holds more than 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski , founder of the Viasna Human Rights Center. 'The election was held amid a deep human rights crisis, in the atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, opposition and dissent,' according to a statement released Tuesday by Viasna and 10 other Belarusian human rights groups. They said Lukashenko's hold on power is illegitimate. Lukashenko has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, relying on subsidies and political support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself in office for a quarter-century, an alliance that helped the Belarusian leader survive the 2020 protests. Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use the country's territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and later hosted some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons . Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus under government pressure after running against Lukashenko in 2020, vowed to keep fighting for the country's freedom. 'Our goal is to break away from the Russian occupation and Lukashenko's tyranny, and to return Belarus into the European family of nations,' Tsikhanouskaya said in a speech at the Lithuanian parliament, Some observers say Lukashenko could now try to mend ties with the West. 'Lukashenko already has been sending signals to the West about his readiness to start a dialogue and his desire to normalize ties in order to ease the total dependence on the Kremlin and soften Western sanctions during his seventh term,' said Valery Karbalevich, an independent political analyst.
Los Angeles Times
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Authoritarian leader of Belarus is sworn for 7th term and tells critics ‘you have no future'
TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in Tuesday to a seventh term, and he mocked those who derided him as 'Europe's last dictator' by saying his country has more democracy 'than those who cast themselves as its models.' 'Half of the world is dreaming about our 'dictatorship,' the dictatorship of real business and interests of our people,' Lukashenko, 70, said in his inauguration speech at the Independence Palace in the capital of Minsk. Hundreds of opposition supporters living abroad held anti-Lukashenko rallies Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Belarus' short-lived independence in 1918 following the collapse of the Russian Empire. Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year, and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated Jan. 26 election as a farce. The Belarus Central Election Commission declared he won with nearly 87% of the vote after a campaign in which four token challengers on the ballot all praised his rule. Opposition members have been imprisoned or exiled abroad by Lukashenko's unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech. Months of massive protests that were unprecedented in the history of the country of 9 million people followed the 2020 election and brought on the harsh crackdown. Over 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West. Thousands of Lukashenko supporters attended Tuesday's inauguration ceremony, where he denounced his critics as foreign stooges who were at odds with the people. 'You don't and won't have public support, you have no future,' he declared. 'We have more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models.' Belarusian activists say it holds more than 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Viasna Human Rights Center. 'The election was held amid a deep human rights crisis, in the atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, opposition and dissent,' according to a statement released Tuesday by Viasna and 10 other Belarusian human rights groups. They said Lukashenko's hold on power is illegitimate. Lukashenko has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, relying on subsidies and political support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself in office for a quarter-century, an alliance that helped the Belarusian leader survive the 2020 protests. Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use the country's territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and later hosted some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons. Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus under government pressure after running against Lukashenko in 2020, vowed to keep fighting for the country's freedom. 'Our goal is to break away from the Russian occupation and Lukashenko's tyranny, and to return Belarus into the European family of nations,' Tsikhanouskaya said in a speech at the Lithuanian parliament, Some observers say Lukashenko could now try to mend ties with the West. 'Lukashenko already has been sending signals to the West about his readiness to start a dialogue and his desire to normalize ties in order to ease the total dependence on the Kremlin and soften Western sanctions during his seventh term,' said Valery Karbalevich, an independent political analyst. Karmanau writes for the Associated Press.
The Hill
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Authoritarian leader of Belarus is sworn for a 7th term and tells his critics ‘you have no future'
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in Tuesday to a seventh term, and he mocked those who derided him as 'Europe's last dictator' by saying his country has more democracy 'than those who cast themselves as its models.' 'Half of the world is dreaming about our 'dictatorship,' the dictatorship of real business and interests of our people,' Lukashenko, 70, said in his inauguration speech at the Independence Palace in the capital of Minsk. Hundreds of opposition supporters living abroad held anti-Lukashenko rallies Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Belarus' short-lived independence in 1918 following the collapse of the Russian Empire. Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year, and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated Jan. 26 election as a farce. The Belarus Central Election Commission declared he won with nearly 87% of the vote after a campaign in which four token challengers on the ballot all praised his rule. Opposition members have been imprisoned or exiled abroad by Lukashenko's unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech. Months of massive protests that were unprecedented in the history of the country of 9 million people followed the 2020 election and brought on the harsh crackdown. Over 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West. Thousands of Lukashenko supporters attended Tuesday's inauguration ceremony, where he denounced his critics as foreign stooges who were at odds with the people. 'You don't and won't have public support, you have no future,' he declared. 'We have more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models.' Belarusian activists say it holds more than 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Viasna Human Rights Center. 'The election was held amid a deep human rights crisis, in the atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, opposition and dissent,' according to a statement released Tuesday by Viasna and 10 other Belarusian human rights groups. They said Lukashenko's hold on power is illegitimate. Lukashenko has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, relying on subsidies and political support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself in office for a quarter-century, an alliance that helped the Belarusian leader survive the 2020 protests. Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use the country's territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and later hosted some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons. Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus under government pressure after running against Lukashenko in 2020, vowed to keep fighting for the country's freedom. 'Our goal is to break away from the Russian occupation and Lukashenko's tyranny, and to return Belarus into the European family of nations,' Tsikhanouskaya said in a speech at the Lithuanian parliament, Some observers say Lukashenko could now try to mend ties with the West. 'Lukashenko already has been sending signals to the West about his readiness to start a dialogue and his desire to normalize ties in order to ease the total dependence on the Kremlin and soften Western sanctions during his seventh term,' said Valery Karbalevich, an independent political analyst.
