Belarus Headlines

While Russia is increasing its efforts to push Belarus into its geostrategic orbit even further, Europe appears to have taken the "wait and see approach". The latest arms embargo and sanctions targeting Belarusian companies is a moral gesture, which will have little effect in Belarus. Those who wish to see change in Belarus may be losing the momentum. Russia is pressing Belarus to privatise its most lucrative assets. The highly profitable Belarusian state enterprise, Belaruskali, may end up in the hands of the Russian tycoon Kerimov. The Kremlin also appears intent on setting higher prices for energy supplies, undermining the main cornerstone of Belarus’ "economic miracle". Moreover, ‘Russian officials have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over the import of Belarusian dairy products, with the potential for renewed trade restrictions casting a shadow over Belarus’ fragile economy.’ Russia has additionally warned Belarus that if it further restricts Russia's media outlets it would face difficulties securing Russian loans in the future. Russia is getting nearly everything it wants. Europe is losing on nearly all fronts because of its passivity Some in the European Union think that relations with Belarus have reached their lowest point and can only improve. This may not be the case because the human rights situation may further deteriorate as Lukashenka tries to resist growing public unrest.