Belarusian Y E a R B O O K 2020
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GOP Attacks Dems' $1.9T COVID-19 Relief Bill from All Angles
Taste My Aruba: Friday Sustainable, February 12, 2021 Sea-to-table T: 582-7800 Savor www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday Page 10 Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper GOP attacks Dems’ $1.9T COVID-19 relief bill from all angles By A. FRAM, R. ALONSO- Democratic leaders hope ZALDIVAR and K. FREKING for House passage later Associated Press this month, with Senate ap- WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- proval and a bill on Biden’s publicans are attacking desk by mid-March. the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion “This is the moment,” said COVID-19 relief package Ways and Means Com- as too costly, economically mittee Chairman Richard damaging and overtly par- Neal, D-Mass., citing the tisan, an all-angles attempt pandemic’s human and to derail new President economic toll. Joe Biden’s top priority as As committees worked, it starts moving through a Republicans proposed Congress his party controls amendments spotlighting only narrowly.Four House what they see as the leg- committees worked Thurs- islation’s soft spots. Their day on their pieces of themes were clear: Demo- sweeping legislation that crats are overspending, would send $1,400 pay- hurting workers and em- ments to many Americans. ployers’ job markets, being It would also provide hun- too generous to some im- dreds of billions for state migrants, inviting fraud and and local governments rewarding political allies — and to boost vaccination allegations that Democrats efforts, raise tax credits dismiss as ludicrous. In this Feb. 9, 2021, photo, President Joe Biden meets with business leaders to discuss a coronavi- for children and increase rus relief package in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. -
Belarusians' Views on the Political Crisis
Belarusians’ views on the political crisis Results of a public opinion poll conducted between 14 and 20 January 2021 Notes on methodology We surveyed a total of 926 respondents between 14 and 20 January 2021. Our sample’s composition corresponds to the general structure of Belarus's urban population in terms of gender, age, and the size of respondents’ town of residence. The poll was conducted using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method, which in practice means that it was limited to internet users. Although various sources claim that only 75–82 percent of the population of Belarus use the web, internet users do remain more economically and socially active. Therefore, despite the fact that our sample has been weighted to accurately reflect the make-up of Belarusian society, it is possible that support for Lukashenka and his policies may be slightly higher than this poll indicates, as Lukashenka's supporters tend to be less socially and economically active than his detractors. We selected the CAWI method because the repressive nature of Belarusian legislation, as well additional risks faced by the researchers who collaborated for this study, make face-to-face interviews impossible. The statistical margin of error of our sample of 926 people (with a 95 percent confidence level) does not exceed 3.22%. All answers of all respondents are available as a SAV file. Chatham House | The Royal Institute of International Affairs 2 QUESTION 1 Did you vote for in the Belarusian presidential elections in August 2020? 23.2% Yes No 76.8% Chatham -
Belarus INDIVIDUALS
CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK Last Updated:12/08/2021 Status: Asset Freeze Targets REGIME: Belarus INDIVIDUALS 1. Name 6: ALIASHKEVICH 1: ALIAKSANDR 2: MIKHAILAVICH 3: n/a 4: n/a 5: n/a. a.k.a: ALESHKEVICH, Alexander, Mikhailovich Position: (1) First Deputy Head of the District Department of Internal Affairs in Moskovski District, Minsk (2) Head of Criminal Police Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref):BEL0016 Date designated on UK Sanctions List: 31/12/2020 (UK Statement of Reasons):In Aliaksandr Aliashkevich’s position as First Deputy Head of the District Department of Internal Affairs in Moskovski/Moscow District of the city of Minsk and Head of Criminal Police, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign in that district against peaceful protesters in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in particular arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force and ill‐treatment, including torture. (Gender):Male Listed on: 05/10/2020 Last Updated: 31/12/2020 Group ID: 13938. 2. Name 6: ASTREIKA 1: ALIAKSANDR 2: VIACHASLAVAVICH 3: n/a 4: n/a 5: n/a. Title: Major-General Of Militia (Police Force) DOB: 22/12/1971. POB: Kapyl, Former USSR Currently Belarus a.k.a: ASTREIKO, Alexander, Viacheslavovich Nationality: Belarusian Position: Head of the Department of Internal Affairs of Brest Oblast Executive Committee Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref):BEL0021 Date designated on UK Sanctions List: 31/12/2020 (UK Statement of Reasons):Aloaksandr Astreika is Head of the Department of Internal Affairs of Brest Oblast Executive Committee and Major General of Police. -
Belarusian Yearbook 2017
WeBsite of the expeRt Community of BeLARus Nashe MNeNie 1 (‘Our OpiNiON’) AgenCy foR soCiAL And poLitiCAL expeRt AppRAisAL Belarusian Y e a r b o o k 2017 A survey and analysis of developments in the Republic of Belarus in 2016 Lohvinaŭ Vilnius 2017 2 Belarusian YearBook 2017 Compiled and edited by: Anatoly Pankovsky and Valeria Kostyugova english version translated by Mark Bence, Volha Hapeyeva, Andrey Kuznetsov, Vladimir Kuznetsov english version edited by Max Nuijens scientific reviewers and consultants: Oleg Manaev, Doctor of sociology (independent institute of socio- economic and Political studies – iisePs); Andrei Vardomatski, Doctor of sociology (laboratory of axiometrical research noVak); Alexei Pikulik, Doctor of Political sciences (Belarusian institute for strategic studies – Biss), Irina Dounaev, Ph. D. (independent expert); Olga Shparaga, Ph. D., associate Professor (european College of Liberal Arts in Belarus – eClaB); Andrei Kazakievich, Doctor of Political sciences (institute of Political studies “Political sphere”); Pavel Daneiko (Belarusian economic research and outreach Center – BEROC); Miroslav Kollar (Institute for Public Affairs, Program Director of the slovak annual Global Report). Prepress by: Stefani Kalinowskaya The yearbook is published with support of The German Marshall Fund of the United States The ideas expressed are solely the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board. © Website of the expert community of Belarus Nashe Mnenie (nmnby.eu), 2017 issn 1822-4091 -
Tracing Authoritarian Learning in Belarus, Moldova, Russia And
Tracing Authoritarian Learning in Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine By Stephen Hall SSEES UCL PhD Thesis Word Count: 99,492 I, Stephen Hall confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. 1 Abstract The thesis addresses how authoritarian regimes remain in power, and the processes of learning they engage in, using the case studies of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. I investigate six propositions, arguing that firstly, authoritarian learning differs from democratic learning because authoritarian regimes are concerned principally with survival and so learn best practices to ensure that they possess a full palette of survival practices. Secondly, there is a flattened learning hierarchy or network between authoritarian regimes. Thirdly, internal networks are important for learning among authoritarian regimes. Fourthly, success and failure are equally important for authoritarian learning. Fifthly, internal examples are as relevant to authoritarian learning as external examples. Sixthly, authoritarian regimes use a full palette of survival practices than just relying on repression. Therefore, authoritarian regimes are more likely to be concerned than democratic regimes about survivial, and so they develop a full palette of survival practices. The thesis argues that learning hierarchies are flattened. Success and failure are as important to authoritarian learning as each other, with authoritarian regimes drawing on both successful and failed examples. Similarly, internal sources of learning are as relevant to understanding authoritarian learning as external examples. Lastly, authoritarian regimes have a full palette of survival strategies than just relying on repression. -
The Protests in Belarus: Insights from Minsk and the Western View
1 THE PROTESTS IN BELARUS: INSIGHTS FROM MINSK AND THE WESTERN VIEW THE PROTESTS IN BELARUS: INSIGHTS FROM MINSK AND THE WESTERN VIEW EASTERN EUROPE STUDIES CENTRE Vilnius, Lithuania August, 2020 THE PROTESTS IN BELARUS: INSIGHTS FROM MINSK AND THE WESTERN VIEW 2 ANDREI YAHORAU Senior analyst of the Centre for European transforma- tion. Master of Political Science. A. Yahorau graduated from Belarusan State University, department of political science, and holds a master’s degree in political science. He has been working in the political research area since 2001. Andrei Yahorau is one of the founders of the only specialized political science magazine in Belarus “Politi- cal sphere” (Palitychnaja Sfera) and he is the magazine’s deputy editor. Since 2005 he has been an expert and the head of analytical group of the Humanitarian Techniques Agency. Alexander Lukashenko’s authoritarian regime, tained and severely beaten, and the beatings established as a result of a constitutional and torture continued at places of detention. coup in 1996, is currently facing the most se- The authorities’ goal was to quickly suppress rious political crisis in all the years of its ex- the protests; their tactics, however, produced istence. After the cynically rigged election on effects opposite to those intended. People on 9 August 2020, masses of people took to the the streets began to respond to the violence streets of their cities to protest. The official- by confronting the police. On the second day ly announced results of the election in which of protests, that is, on 10 August, protesters Lukashenko won 80.1 % of the vote, while his began erecting barricades in the streets of main rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, received Minsk; in some cases, the confrontation be- just 10.1 %, radically diverged from the views of tween police and protesters lasted for several the majority of Belarusians. -
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM in BELARUS: IMITATION and REALITY Lukashenko’S Bleak Intention and the Pitfalls of Democratic Transition
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN BELARUS: IMITATION AND REALITY Lukashenko’s bleak intention and the pitfalls of democratic transition Andrei Yeliseyeu | December 2020 | The collecting of proposals by the authorities on amendments to the Constitution is nearing completion in Belarus. Having started this process, Lukashenko, in his traditional style, wants to shift the focus from the really pressing expectations and needs of Belarusian society to issues that are insignificant for Belarusians and preserve his power. Soviet parallels and the scenario with the presidency of Kachanova Well-crafted formulations about the constitutional process as a means of resolving the political crisis and a cure for public discord are designed to divert attention from the total delegitimization of Lukashenko and the legal default and criminal actions of state bodies. The OSCE report on the situation in Belarus within the framework of the Moscow Mechanism cites the assessment of the Secretary General of the World Organization against Torture Gerald Steybrock, from which it follows that this may be one of the most serious violations of international law: “Such cruel treatment of such a large number of Belarusians, which can confidently be called torture, is disgusting in its scale. Given its systematic nature and scale, it clearly indicates a crime against humanity.” The actual expectations of most Belarusians are the resignation of Lukashenko and the holding of fair elections to all government bodies, the return of legality in the country, including the release of political prisoners, as well as the trial for murders, torture, and beatings of civilians. The current pretense of constitutional reform does not in any way address these issues, especially considering that the process is entirely under Lukashenko’s con- trol. -
Nazis' and Poles' Atrocities. State-Run TV Keeps Riding Its
Nazis' and Poles' atrocities. State-run TV keeps riding its hobby-horse of 20th century wars while undermining the protests Monitoring of State TV Narratives in Belarus (15/03/2021 – 21/03/2021) The purpose of this monitoring is to study how the Belarusian state conveys its ideological narrative. The most important mechanism for conveying its narrative is the evening broadcast. Then the informational function of media is complemented, and sometimes replaced by, the broadcasting of official ideological messages. We monitor the outputs of the Agency of the Television News (ATN), which prepares the news broadcasts for the Belarus- 1 channel (“Panorama” and Sunday’s “Main Airtime”), the channel ONT (“Our News”, “Saturday’s Edition” and “Contours”), and the channel STV (“24 Hour News” and “The Week”). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Throughout the week, state channels have been promoting political and historical topics. The key narrative was the preservation of the memory of the Second World War, the atrocities of the Nazis during the war years and building patriotic education on this basis. Monitoring of State TV Narratives in Belarus Page 1 of 11 Issue 35 (15/03/2021 – 21/03/2021) From the historical theme, the state-run TV seamlessly transitioned to denouncing opponents, frequently employing a technique of linking the complicity with the Nazis with the opposition symbols, as well as airing anti-Polish rants in connection with the centenary of the Peace of Riga, after which Western Belarus became part of Poland. STV editorials retain the most aggressive orientation fishing for geopolitical sensations, conspiracy theories and mystical explanations of what is happening in the country and the world.