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Analyses | | Kamil Kłysiński

Consequences for the Belarusian economy of Russias entry into the WTO

Russia's accession to the WTO on 23 August has placed Belarus’s economy in a difficult situation. On one hand, for the next few years Minsk will be unable to complete the negotiation process for joining this organisation. On the other, in…
Analyses | | Kamil Kłysiński

Major staff reshuffles within Alyaksandr Lukashenkas inner circle

On 27 August, Lukashenka appointed Andrei Kobyakov head of presidential administration. Before this nomination, Kobyakov served as the Belarusian ambassador in Russia. Between 2001 and 2010, he was deputy prime minister in charge of…
OSW Commentary | | Kamil Kłysiński, Marek Menkiszak

Will the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus exacerbate the countrys energy dependence on Russia

During Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev’s working visit to Minsk on 18 July, Russia and Belarus signed a general contract for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus. The signature brought to an end the complex negotiations which…
Analyses | | Kamil Kłysiński

The Belarusian regime tightens control over the opposition and civil organisations

On 4 July, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a decree amending the regulations governing its citizens’ exit from the Republic of Belarus. It states that a ban on leaving the country may be imposed on citizens who are under what is…
OSW Commentary | | Kamil Kłysiński, Wojciech Konończuk

An inexhaustible source of income The significance of Belarusian refineries and the outlook for the future

Belarus generated a surplus at US$1.9 billion in foreign trade in goods and services in the first four months of 2012 as compared to a deficit of US$2.8 billion for the same timeframe a year earlier. Minsk owes this, its highest positive…
Analyses | | Kamil Kłysiński

Belarus The dismissal of the Interior Ministrys head consolidates Viktar Lukashenkas influence

On 11 May, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka dismissed the interior minister, General Anatol Kuleshau, and appointed his former first deputy Colonel Ihar Shunievich to this position. At the same time, the Belarusian president announced a…
Analyses | | Kamil Kłysiński

Minsk is searching for possibilities normalise relations with the EU

Two Belarusian political prisoners, a former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau and his aide Zmitser Bandarenka, who had both been sentenced to several years in prison in spring 2011, were released on 14 and 15 April.
Analyses | | Joanna Hyndle-Hussein, Kamil Kłysiński

Limited EU economic sanctions on Belarus

On 23 March, the EU decided to extend its sanctions on Belarus. The list of 232 people banned from entering the EU was extended by a further 12 names, including two major Belarusian businessmen suspected of financially supporting the…
Analyses | | Kamil Kłysiński, Rafał Sadowski

Belaruss diplomatic war with the European Union

By ratcheting up the tension with the EU, Minsk is hoping to reinforce the divisions between those member states which are primarily interested in developing economic cooperation with Belarus, and those that advocate taking a firm stance…
Analyses | | Kamil Kłysiński

Belarus is trying to use the issue of political prisoners as a bargaining chip in its relations with the West

On 25 January at a press conference Iryna Khalip, the wife of one of Belarus's political prisoners, Andrei Sannikau, announced that already last November her husband, probably pressured by tortures and threats, asked President Alexander…