In Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met and signed a friendship treaty, signaling a strengthened bilateral relationship, according to AP News captions accompanying a four-photo set.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang with a 21-gun salute, a public reception by citizens and soldiers, and a wreath-laying at the Kumsusan mausoleum, where Lukashenko laid a bouquet sent by Putin; KCNA said there were no reported talks, underscoring ongoing ties between the two allies of Russia.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with official photo-ops signaling a formal diplomatic engagement.
In Vilnius, Zelensky framed unity with Poland and Lithuania and warned against Belarus’s growing dependence on Moscow, joking that Lukashenko’s dog has more rights than Belarusians. He highlighted Belarus as a launch base for Russian strikes and drones, thanked Lithuania and Poland for support amid ongoing Ukrainian energy outages, and noted the anniversary of the 1863 uprising, with Belarusian opposition figures attending the events.
A group of Belarusian political prisoners, including journalists and activists, were released after years of brutal detention, revealing severe human rights abuses and harsh prison conditions, amid ongoing political repression and efforts to improve relations with the West.
Belarus has released 52 political prisoners in exchange for the easing of some US sanctions, including on Belarusian airline Belavia, as part of a diplomatic effort to improve relations with the US amid ongoing tensions and military exercises involving Russia. The move follows previous releases and aims to soften Belarus's international standing, with discussions about reopening the US embassy in Minsk.
Belarus released 52 political prisoners, including foreigners, in a deal brokered by the US, which also plans to lift sanctions on Belarus's airline and reopen its embassy, as part of efforts to normalize relations and potentially negotiate a larger prisoner release deal.
Belarus has pardoned 52 prisoners, including foreign nationals, and released them into Lithuania, reportedly at the request of US President Trump, as part of a gesture of goodwill amid ongoing political tensions and sanctions discussions.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has indicated he does not plan to seek another term and denied grooming his son as a successor, suggesting this may be his final term after leading Belarus for over three decades.
The article discusses Belarus's ongoing struggle for democracy under the dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenko, highlighting the resistance efforts of the Belarusian opposition in exile, their strategies for a peaceful transition, and the importance of international support to help restore Belarusian independence and democracy.
Sergei Tikhanovsky, husband of Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was released after five years in solitary confinement and called on US President Trump to help free all political prisoners in Belarus, highlighting ongoing political repression and the recent diplomatic visit by US envoy Kellogg.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko released opposition leader Sergei Tsikhanouski and over a dozen other political prisoners following a meeting with Donald Trump's special envoy, Keith Kellogg, in a move seen as a diplomatic breakthrough amid ongoing protests and political repression.
Belarusian President Lukashenko contradicts Putin's claims that Ukraine was involved in the Moscow concert hall attack, stating that the attackers initially intended to enter Belarus, not Ukraine. He reinforced security measures to prevent their entry and agreed to seal off roads into Belarus at Putin's request. Russian officials have arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack, with four appearing in court and facing terrorism charges, amid allegations of violent interrogation methods being used.
Belarusian President Lukashenko contradicts Putin's claims that Ukraine may have been behind the recent terror attack in Moscow, stating that the attackers headed towards the Ukrainian border because they couldn't enter Belarus due to increased security measures. Despite ISIS claiming responsibility, Putin has attempted to shift blame to Kyiv, with Russian officials doubling down on allegations of Ukrainian involvement, while Ukraine denies any connection to the attack.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, announced his intention to seek re-election next year as the opposition boycotted the parliamentary and local elections, labeling them a "sham." The US condemned the elections as undemocratic, and opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya urged voters to boycott the poll, stating that the regime's attempt to legitimize its power through the elections would not succeed. Most candidates belong to pro-regime parties, and Lukashenko warned of no rebellions during the election, following a crackdown on political prisoners and their families.