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1 [1] (June 7, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedpg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Updated June 7, 2021 Belarus: An Overview In 2020, protests against allegedly widespread electoral fraud and abrutalcrackdown onprotesters led to the rise of a mass opposition movement in Belarus, on a scale unseen since the country became independent in 1991 (Belarus previously was part of the Soviet Union). The protests emerged in the wake of Belarus's August 2020presidential election, during which opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayamounted an unexpectedly strong campaign against Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for more than 26 years. Since August2020, about 35,000 Belarusians reportedly have been detained or impris oned. More than 450, including 65 women, are considered politicalprisoners. At least 10 individuals have been killed or have died under suspicious circumstances. The United States, the European Union (EU), and others have called for an end to the crackdown and for the government to hold free and fair presidential elections. Forced Diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978 On May 23, 2021, Belarusian authorities alleged a bomb threat against Ryanair Flight 4978 (en route fromAthens to Vilnius) and required theplane to land in Minsk with a military escort. The diversion was widely characterized as a bomb hoax, and a senior EU official referred to it as an act of state piracy. The apparent purpose of the diversion was to capture flight passenger Raman Pratasevich, co-founder of Nexta, a popular Belarusian online news channel that facilitated 2020 postelection protests in Belarus. Authorities arrested Pratasevich and his companion, Russian national Sofia Sapega, after theplane landed. The United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization has launched an investigation of the incident. Political Background In past years, observers debated whether Lukashenko could be encouraged to preside over a softer and more development-oriented authoritarian regime, but political openings in Belarus were modest and short-lived. From May 2020, Belarusian authorities tried but failed to suppress an unexpectedly energetic electoral opposition. Tsikhanouskay a was a politicalnovice who entered the race afterher spouse, SiarheiTsikhanousky, a popular anti- government video blogger, was denied candidate registration when he and dozens ofother government critics were in temporary detention. After his initialrelease, Tsikhanousky was arrested again while collecting signatures forhis wife's candidacy; he remains in prison. Ts ikhanouskayabecame the united opposition candidate after two prominent potential candidates were denied registration. On the campaign trail, Ts ikh anouskaya pledged to bea transitional figure who would reintroduce ttps://crsreport democracy to Belarus. One denied candidate's campaign manager, Mariya Kalesnikava, and the spouseofanother denied candidatejoined heron the campaign. The three women attracted tens of thousands to demonstrations. Given Lukashenko's authoritarian rule, observers did not expect Tsikhanouskaya to win the election. However, the official pronouncement that Lukashenko won with an evidently exaggerated 80% of the vote quickly led to protests. The brutal crackdown that followedled to larger protests that many observers characterized as leaderless and sometimes attracted hundreds of thousands. Protests subsequently dwindled in frequency and size, but activists adopted new methods of protest and engagement. Figure 1. Belarus at a Glance Sources: World Bank; Trade Data Monitor. Tsikhanouskayaleft Belarus after she was detained and threatened with impris onment. Fromneighboring Lithuania, she formed a Coordination Council to help lead the opposition; five of the council's seven seniormembers wer detained after it was established. Former campaign manager Kalesnikava was abducted and dispatched to the Belarus- Poland border. She was imprisoned after she refused to leave the country. Kales nikav a and another council member remain in prison. Others have left Belarus. The oppositionhas organized various actions to increase pressure on the government of Belarus and to secure international attention. A network of former law enforcement officials who seek to expose alleged government crimes has supportedthe opposition. Members of Belarus's once-burgeoning information and communications technology industry, many ofwhomhave left the country, also have supported the opposition. Relations with Russia Belarus's closestpartner is Rus sia. Belarus is a member of the Russ ia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the two countries share an air defense system. Belarus also is a member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union .congress.gov

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