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Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic States of Lithuania and Latvia. Its capital and most populous city is Minsk.

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All Content on this topic

Dokus KW 51 I Verschollen zwischen Belarus und Polen

Dokus KW 51 I Verschollen zwischen Belarus und Polen

Where are you? Missing between Belarus and Poland

More and more people are taking the migratory route through Belarus — and disappearing without a trace.

Belarusian volunteer soldiers in a combat mission

Belarusian volunteer soldiers in a combat mission

Belarusians fighting for Ukraine seek refuge in EU

Hundreds of Belarusians have volunteered to fight for Ukraine, only to be denied permission to stay in the country.

A small group of people with bags and suitcases walk behind rusty anti-tank hedgehogs; a sign in the background is in bright Ukrainian yellow and blue

A small group of people with bags and suitcases walk behind rusty anti-tank hedgehogs; a sign in the background is in bright Ukrainian yellow and blue

Life under occupation: 'Russians say they came to liberate'

A single border crossing from Belarus allows Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas access to the rest of the country.

Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks to DW in Berlin

Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks to DW in Berlin

Belarus opposition leader urges stronger EU, US Support

The exiled Belarus opposition denounces Belarus’s upcoming January 26 elections amid an ongoing political crackdown.

Two men at Sofia Pride in 2024

Two men at Sofia Pride in 2024

Gay Russo-Belarusian couple seeks asylum in Bulgaria

Though Bulgaria recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Andrei and Alex still hope to live there free from persecution.

Lettlands Präsident Edgars Rinkevics im DW-Interview

Lettlands Präsident Edgars Rinkevics im DW-Interview

Latvian President on Ukraine: 'There is no time for fatigue'

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics tells DW that the West needs to mobilize more support for Kyiv.

Starting a new life after political imprisonment in Belarus

Husband and wife Dmitry Luksha and Polina Polovinko, who were released in early July, told DW about their ordeal.

Ivan Litvinovich holds up the gold medal from the Paris Olympics

Ivan Litvinovich holds up the gold medal from the Paris Olympics

Ukraine wants action after Belarus Olympic medalist ceremony

The ceremony, held on Belarus' National Unity Day, appears to violate Olympic neutrality rules. Ukraine wants action.

Germany is among the NATO allies sending soldiers to beef up Lithuania's border security.

Germany is among the NATO allies sending soldiers to beef up Lithuania's border security.

German soldiers help beef up Lithuania's defense

Lithuania is among the states feeling most vulnerable since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Flight history for Ryanair flight FR4978 shown on Flightradar24 website

Flight history for Ryanair flight FR4978 shown on Flightradar24 website

Poland to charge Belarusians over 2021 Ryanair diversion

Due to a supposed bomb threat, the flight was instructed to land in Minsk, where an opposition blogger was arrested.

Belarus filmmaker Andrey Gnyot looks into the camera

Belarus filmmaker Andrey Gnyot looks into the camera

Belarus: Activist fights to stop extradition from Serbia

Belarus wants Andrey Gnyot extradited from Serbia for tax evasion but he says his case is politically motivated.

DW Podcast | Inside Europe | provisorisch f ROAD

DW Podcast | Inside Europe | provisorisch f ROAD

Inside Europe August 22 2024

Ukraine's Kursk incursion turns the tables in the war, US enthusiasm for Kamala Harris' campaign spreads to Europe, and Britain releases thousands of prisoners early. Also: Italy's private beaches may be shut this summer, what did Dutch spy chiefs know about Ukraine and the Nord Stream attack? Lukashenko's critics face snooping while reporting from exile and Paris counts down to the Paralympics.

Chinese PM Li Qiang speaks at the National People's Congress in Beijing (file photo)

Chinese PM Li Qiang speaks at the National People's Congress in Beijing (file photo)

Chinese PM Li Qiang begins visit to Russia, Belarus

The Chinese Prime Minister is keen to boost ties that have grown closer since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Armed forces stand along a border fence, next to an ambulance and military vehicle

Armed forces stand along a border fence, next to an ambulance and military vehicle

Poland, Belarus: A new Cold War or humanitarian catastrophe?

The border between Poland and Belarus is the scene of an increasing number of illegal crossings and violence.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz awaits the arrival of Russian dissidents at Cologne/Bonn airport.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz awaits the arrival of Russian dissidents at Cologne/Bonn airport.

Historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West

Russia and several Western countries exchanged 26 prisoners in the biggest swap since the height of the Cold War.

DW Podcast | Inside Europe

DW Podcast | Inside Europe

Inside Europe August 1 2024

France steps up security after the rail sabotage, our man in Paris reviews the Olympics' first week, swimming in the polluted Seine river and Turkey wants to cull millions of street dogs. Also: Belarus pardons a German man sentenced to death for terrorism, Italy's anti-abortion law riles rights groups, were the London 2012 Olympics value for money? And how Toledo is drawing crowds this summer.

Fokus Europa Polen Belarus Grenze

Fokus Europa Polen Belarus Grenze

Focus on Europe - Spotlight on People

The border between Belarus and Poland is a scene of increasing violence and illegal crossings.

Palestinians wave flags and carry a placard of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Palestinians wave flags and carry a placard of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

AfricaLink News: 31 July 2024

Iran vows retaliation after Hamas leader's killing +++ Belarus pardons German national

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko chairs a meeting with people involved in the case of a German national sentenced to death in Belarus on terrorism charges, in Minsk, Belarus July 30, 2024.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko chairs a meeting with people involved in the case of a German national sentenced to death in Belarus on terrorism charges, in Minsk, Belarus July 30, 2024.

Belarus pardons German sentenced to death

President Alexander Lukashenko has decided to pardon a German man sentenced to death on terrorism and other charges.

A prison cell window behind barbed wire in Minsk, Belarus

A prison cell window behind barbed wire in Minsk, Belarus

German sentenced to death in Belarus asks for pardon on TV

A German citizen who was sentenced to death in Belarus has asked for mercy in a video broadcast on state television.

Riot police and barbed wire against a cloudy sky

Riot police and barbed wire against a cloudy sky

What's known about German sentenced to death in Belarus?

A Belarusian court has charged Rico K. with terrorism, espionage and mercenary activity, sentencing him to death.

A prison ward walks through a gate at a jail number 8 in Minsk, Belarus on August 18, 2010

A prison ward walks through a gate at a jail number 8 in Minsk, Belarus on August 18, 2010

Belarus says in talks over German man sentenced to death

Belarus said it proposed "concrete solutions" to Germany over the fate of Rico K., who is on death row in Minsk.

Alexander Lukashenko surrounded by Belarusian flags

Alexander Lukashenko surrounded by Belarusian flags

Belarus: Alexander Lukashenko has been in power 30 years

State repression has got worse since Alexander Lukashenko came to power in the last fair elections in Belarus.

A prison cell window behind barbed wire, in Minsk, Belarus, on August 18, 2010

A prison cell window behind barbed wire, in Minsk, Belarus, on August 18, 2010

Belarus sentences German man to death for 'terrorism'

A court in Minsk ordered the execution of Rico K. after he was found guilty of terrorism and mercenary activities.

Three service members in military gear hang from parachute lines

Three service members in military gear hang from parachute lines

Concern over Belarus-China military drills, near NATO border

Belarus recently joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and this week is hosting military drills with China.

Former Belarusian ambasador to Germany Denis Sidorenko

Former Belarusian ambasador to Germany Denis Sidorenko

Belarus: Former ambassador to Germany dies unexpectedly

Denis Sidorenko was ambassador in Berlin from 2016 to earlier this year, when he was recalled and not given a new role.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (r) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smile during their meeting at Pyongyang-Sunan International Airport outside Pyongyang.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (r) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smile during their meeting at Pyongyang-Sunan International Airport outside Pyongyang.

Stand by me? Vladimir Putin's remaining allies

Putin may be internationally isolated, yet he still can still count on some friendly autocratic nations for support.

Belorusian director and activist Andrey Gnyot

Belorusian director and activist Andrey Gnyot

Serbian court rules to extradite Andrey Gnyot to Belarus

A Serbian court has ruled that Belarusian journalist and political activist Andrey Gnyot can be extradited to Belarus.

A standoff between migrants and Polish soldiers on Kuznica Bialostocka-Bruzgi border crossing on the Belarusian-Polish border, November 8 2021.

A standoff between migrants and Polish soldiers on Kuznica Bialostocka-Bruzgi border crossing on the Belarusian-Polish border, November 8 2021.

Poland, Baltics step up border controls amid migrant crisis

Since 2021, migrants have made nearly 150,000 attempts to illegally cross into the EU from Belarus, DW analysis shows.

Polish soldiers patrol the border with Belarus along the border fence in the Bialowieza forest

Polish soldiers patrol the border with Belarus along the border fence in the Bialowieza forest

In eastern Poland, locals fear border zone will kill tourism

Residents in the towns and villages in Poland's eastern buffer zone fear the impact the measures will have on tourism.

Migrants are seen stretching their hands through the fence on Poland's border with Belarus in Bialowieza, Poland, on May 28, 2023. The migrants were part of a group of some 30 people seeking asylum in the EU country

Migrants are seen stretching their hands through the fence on Poland's border with Belarus in Bialowieza, Poland, on May 28, 2023. The migrants were part of a group of some 30 people seeking asylum in the EU country

What will be the human cost of Poland's new border defenses?

Poland is fortifying its border with Belarus. Critics are asking at what — or whose — cost the project will come.

Polish soldiers standing in front of a barbed wire fencing

Polish soldiers standing in front of a barbed wire fencing

Poland: Soldier dies after knife attack on Belarus border

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk blamed Russia for the surge in attempted migrant crossings at the border with Belarus.

Polish army vehicles seen moving to the eastern border on July 8, 2023

Polish army vehicles seen moving to the eastern border on July 8, 2023

Poland presents plan to fortify border to Russia, Belarus

Defense officials say Poland is at constant risk of hostile actions by Russia and its ally, Belarus.

A man and a woman perform on the bagpipes onstage.

A man and a woman perform on the bagpipes onstage.

Belarusian band Irdorath back on stage after imprisonment

Two years in prison for playing music at a protest? That's what happened to Vladimir and Nadezhda of the band Irdorath.

Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt at a press conference with the Belarusian state news agency BelTA

Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt at a press conference with the Belarusian state news agency BelTA

Spy scandal: Why did a Polish judge 'defect' to Belarus?

Polish prosecutors will file espionage charges against a Polish judge who fled to Belarus, where he is seeking asylum.

Belarusian journalist Maria Savushkina looks out over a city landscape

Belarusian journalist Maria Savushkina looks out over a city landscape

Belarusian journalist-in-exile calls out state abuses

Reporters Without Borders has ranked Belarus as the worst country for press freedom in Europe.

A view shows the burnt-out Crocus City Hall with flowers and candles in the foreground

A view shows the burnt-out Crocus City Hall with flowers and candles in the foreground

Could Moscow attack suspects face execution in Belarus?

Some Russian politicians want the Moscow terror attack suspects to stand trial in Belarus, which has the death penalty.

European Commission chiefg Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo hold a joint press conference at the Lappeenranta airport, eastern Finland, on April 19, 2024

European Commission chiefg Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo hold a joint press conference at the Lappeenranta airport, eastern Finland, on April 19, 2024

Finland urges EU to help end migrant influx from Russia

Helsinki has accused Moscow of weaponizing migration to settle a score with the new NATO member.

A woman wearing blue overalls holds a table

A woman wearing blue overalls holds a table

Belarus: FSC accused of greenwashing furniture trade

Rights activists have called for an investigation into furniture produced in Belarusian jails and exported to the EU.

Russian-Belarusian military exercises at the Mulino training range in 2021

Russian-Belarusian military exercises at the Mulino training range in 2021

Belarus conducts military drills near Ukraine, EU border

Through the three-day long drills, Belarus aims to train its troops to defend their regions.

Last year Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy announced that his country would be ramping up fortifications along its border with Russia and Belarus.

Last year Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy announced that his country would be ramping up fortifications along its border with Russia and Belarus.

How Ukraine fortifies its border with Russia and Belarus

DW's Aya Ibrahim visited one of the newly built defensive lines in the northern region of Chernihiv.

Iana Lebedeva holds her knees as she jumps from a trampoline

Iana Lebedeva holds her knees as she jumps from a trampoline

Russian seals Olympic spot in Germany despite visa rejection

German authorities tried to stop Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing on German soil. But it hasn't worked.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, March 18

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, March 18

EU foreign ministers meet on Ukraine aid, Hamas sanctions

The bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell welcomed agreements made by the bloc's 27 members.

A prison cell window behind barbed wire

A prison cell window behind barbed wire

Belarus: Little mercy for sick or disabled prisoners

NGOs count more than 40 ill or disabled political prisoners in Belarusian jail. What are their chances of release?

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in an interview with Russian state media on September 15, 2023

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in an interview with Russian state media on September 15, 2023

Belarus: Lukashenko says he'll run for president in 2025

The 69-year-old, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, said: "No responsible president would abandon his people."

A man casts his ballot during the early voting of the parliamentary and local elections

A man casts his ballot during the early voting of the parliamentary and local elections

Belarus heads to polls for parliamentary elections

Elections are expected to result in a another big win for parties loyal to longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko.

A group of people and a Belarusian flag

A group of people and a Belarusian flag

Belarus: 2024 elections will not be 'free and fair'

As Belarus gears up for its first elections since 2020, the regime is doing its utmost to keep voters under its control.

Action from the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in the UAE

Action from the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in the UAE

Belarus make controversial history at beach soccer World Cup

Belarus' beach soccer team made history at the beach soccer World Cup, but their presence is controversial.

Aryna Sabalenka covers her mouth with her hand

Aryna Sabalenka covers her mouth with her hand

Australian Open finals: Why Medvedev and Sabalenka played

While Russian and Belarusian athletes in other sports are banned, that is not the case in tennis. DW explains why.

Two fighters in military gear at a shooting range, one pointing a gun while the other corrects his posture

Two fighters in military gear at a shooting range, one pointing a gun while the other corrects his posture

What are Wagner Group mercenaries still doing in Belarus?

How many Wagner mercenaries are still in Belarus, and what are they doing there?