Belarus

President of Belarus

01 Sep 2021 6 2

Andrey Kazakevich

Inserted 2 years ago

“We've all heard many times various statements that integration agreements would be signed in the near future. I don't think that any 'road maps' that seriously limit Belarus's sovereignty will be signed, but Russia is using the process to increase its influence over Belarus, which is already quite strong.”

Analyst

31 Aug 2021 1 2

Syarhey Bohdan

Inserted 2 years ago

“If the integration agreements [between Russia and Belarus] are signed, it will be a significant surrender on the part of the Belarusian authorities under pressure, which they were unable to resist.”

Political analyst

31 Aug 2021 2 2

Josep Borrell

Inserted 2 years ago

“Reassured to see that the athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya arrived safe in Poland. One more proud Belarusian has however been forced to flee her own country due to the actions of the Lukashenko regime and Olympic truce been violated.”

Twitter

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

05 Aug 2021 3 2

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya

Inserted 2 years ago

“I can say that I always openly expressed my opinion. But you always have to watch your words so that it doesn't lead to consequences. Yes, in Belarus not just I but everyone is afraid to say the wrong thing. I just wanted to run at the Olympics, it was my dream. We are running free, and Belarus will be free.”

Theguardian

Olympic athlete

05 Aug 2021 1 4

Alexander Lukashenko

Inserted 2 years ago

“They [the West] seem to seek out our sore spots. They hit primarily the export sectors of the Belarusian economy: petrochemistry, mechanical engineering, potash, and so on. But the main goal is to leave the people without pensions, salaries, benefits, education, medical care and cause discontent among Belarusians. Freedom of speech that we're protecting under the constitution today has turned into extremist activities. It's one thing to criticize the authorities. We have always took criticism adequately ... It's a different thing to call for a rebellion and massacre of those who don't support these so-called revolutionary, thuggish sentiments.”

Apnews

President of Belarus

30 Jul 2021 1 3

Anaïs Marin

Inserted 2 years ago

“[Grounding a passenger jet in Minsk in May 2021 to the arrest the dissident journalist Roman Protasevic] Illustrates the desire of authorities to end all forms of dissidence by purging society of elements it considers undesirable. It is a form of purge that recalls those practised by totalitarian states.”

U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus

05 Jul 2021 1 2

Heiko Maas

Inserted 2 years ago

“Today we have confirmed and decided that sectoral sanctions will be taken against Belarus, which will have a severe impact on the Belarusian economy. We want the release of the political prisoners, an end to the violence against protesters and the opposition, and an inclusive dialogue that will lead to free and fair elections.”

Germany Foreign Minister

21 Jun 2021 0 2

Franak Viačorka

Inserted 2 years ago

“Raman Pratasevich appeared at the press conference of Lukashenka's MFA on the situation with Ryanair. No matter what he says, let's not forget: he is a hostage. And the regime is using him as a trophy.”

Twitter

Senior Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

14 Jun 2021 4 2

Julie Fisher

Inserted 2 years ago

“For as long as Lukashenka remains in power, Belarus is under threat of absorption into Russia under the union-state agreement, with dire consequences for the people of Belarus, their voice, their agency their culture, and their identity.”

U.S. Ambassador to Belarus

09 Jun 2021 2 3

Alexander Lukashenko

Inserted 2 years ago

“There is always someone who causes problems for us. You know about them, I'll inform you. I brought some documents so that you understand what is happening.”

President of Belarus

28 May 2021 1 1

Artyom Shraybman

Inserted 2 years ago

“These fabrications are little more than a campaign to justify himself. There is no bigger strategic motive. On occasions when the Kremlin stands to gain from the disinformation Minsk puts out, Lukashenka is demonstrating loyalty to Moscow in a tactic to win support. Because the more anti-Western he is, the more irreplaceable he becomes.”

Belarusian political analyst

27 May 2021 3 2

Stsiapan Putsila

Inserted 2 years ago

“We are asking for sanctions and further pressure on the regime, because Lukashenko is only afraid of force. We ask for individual sanctions, economic sanctions and sanctions against the state company exporting potash to the European Union.”

Balkaninsight

Founder of the Warsaw-based anti-government Nexta news outlet

27 May 2021 4 2

Natalia Protasevich

Inserted 2 years ago

“I hope you are listening to the scream of my heart. I want you to convey my request to world leaders, of the EU and the US, I beg you to help us free my son.”

Balkaninsight

Mother of the journalist Roman Protasevich

27 May 2021 5 1

Stsiapan Putsila

Inserted 2 years ago

“It's a real shame that Roman [Roman Protasevich] made this mistake because we at some point discussed in a chat that it is not worth flying over Belarus because it is a CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) country. It's dangerous and they can at any moment stop a plane and force it down. But unfortunately Roman's colleagues say he had relaxed a bit in recent times, not feeling threats.”

Founder of the Warsaw-based anti-government Nexta news outlet

26 May 2021 3 1

John Cox

Inserted 2 years ago

“[The transcript] got holes in it so big that you could drive an airplane through it. It reads like something written by someone who has a limited bit of knowledge, someone who has some kernels or facts and was trying to interweave it with things that may not be factual.”

Retired commercial airline pilot who now runs an aviation safety consulting business in Washington, D.C.

26 May 2021 0 2

Alexander Lukashenko

Inserted 2 years ago

“As we predicted, our ill-wishers at home and abroad have changed their methods of attacking the state. They have crossed many red lines and crossed boundaries of common sense and human morality.”

President of Belarus

26 May 2021 0 3

Roman Protasevich

Inserted 2 years ago

“I can state that I don't have any health issues, including diseases of the heart or any other organs. Police officers are treating me properly and according to the law.”

Belarusian journalist and activist, former editor-in-chief of the Telegram channel Nexta

24 May 2021 0 1

Igar Tyshkevich

Inserted 2 years ago

“This is a political message – to the Belarusian political migrants of the new wave, and on the other hand – to his supporters, the so-called 'electoral swamp'. The message is that the government is strong and may get to anyone.”

Belarusian analyst based in Ukraine

24 May 2021 1 1

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Inserted 2 years ago

“It is absolutely obvious that this is an operation by the special services to hijack an aircraft in order to detain activist and blogger Raman Pratasevich. Not a single person who flies over Belarus can be sure of his safety.”

Human rights activist and politician who ran for the 2020 Belarusian presidential election as the main opposition candidate

23 May 2021 1 1

Jens Stoltenberg

Inserted 2 years ago

“Closely monitoring forcible landing in Belarus of flight to Vilnius & reported detention of opposition figure Roman Protasevich. This is a serious & dangerous incident which requires international investigation. Belarus must ensure safe return of crew & all passengers.”

Twitter

Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

23 May 2021 3 1

Gitanas Nauseda

Inserted 2 years ago

“Unprecedented event! A civilian passenger plane flying to Vilnius was forcibly landed in Minsk. Belarusian political activist and founder of @NEXTA_EN was on the plane. He is arrested. Regime is behind the abhorrent action. I demand to free Roman Protasevic urgently!”

President of Lithuania

23 May 2021 4 1

Barys Haretski

Inserted 3 years ago

“Since last summer, the authorities have systematically created, let us say, 'a Great Wall of China' around Belarusian society. They have repressed journalists and shut down media outlets.”

Deputy chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists

12 Apr 2021 0 2

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Inserted 3 years ago

“In Belarus, you can't just leave home and be sure you will return safely. Belarusians live in this reality for over half a year.”

Human rights activist and politician who ran for the 2020 Belarusian presidential election as the main opposition candidate

27 Mar 2021 1 3

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Inserted 3 years ago

“Roman Bondarenko was killed by accomplices of the regime. He was an innocent victim of an inhumane system that considers people’s lives to be the cost of power. We all understand that any peaceful person could have ended up in his place.”

Theguardian

Human rights activist and politician who ran for the 2020 Belarusian presidential election as the main opposition candidate

15 Nov 2020 1 3

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Inserted 3 years ago

“If we help plants to strike, they will help us finish what we started. The regime is afraid of this force and responds to it. During one of the calls with strike leaders, they told me an important thing: 'Solidarity is our best insurance from defeat'.”

Apnews

Belarus leader Lukashenko’s leading election challenger and the wife of an opposition blogger

27 Oct 2020 1 2

Donald Tusk

Inserted 3 years ago

“I still remember when I was a young rebel during the communist time in Poland. I still remember, you know, people on the streets, the riot police beating the people, etc. But at the same time, I remember how efficient the nonviolent movement can be. And this is the phenomenon also of Belarus. Almost all the leaders I've met in the last few months are aware of the fact that Lukashenka will lose this battle. If not this battle, then for sure, this war against his nation and the Belarus civil society.”

Head of the European center-right European People's Party (EPP)

23 Oct 2020 2 3

Radek Sikorski

Inserted 3 years ago

“Belarus is seen by the Russians as even more vital territorially and geostrategically than Ukraine. Any kind of solution [to the standoff] will have to respect, and should actually respect, Russia's red line.”

Former Polish foreign minister and current European Parliament member

23 Oct 2020 3 3

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Inserted 3 years ago

“Yesterday we have seen the escalation of violence on the part of the authorities. Once again, hundreds of people are detained, beaten up, injured and crippled. Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, repressions are intensifying. I call on our European partners to act quickly and decisively.”

Apnews

Belarus leader Lukashenko’s leading election challenger and the wife of an opposition blogger

12 Oct 2020 1 2

Colin Robertson

Inserted 3 years ago

“In the case of Belarus, we have gone after the kingpins and we hit them where it hurts — their pocketbooks and ability to travel. It would have been better if it were a G7 rather than just Canada and the U.K., but I guess it's a reflection of EU solidarity.”

Cbc

Former Canadian diplomat

30 Sep 2020 5 2

Alexander Lukashenko

Inserted 3 years ago

“As an experienced politician - to an immature one - I want to advise Mr. Macron to look around less, and instead finally deal with the internal affairs of France.”

President of Belarus

27 Sep 2020 2 2

Josep Borrell

Inserted 3 years ago

“This 'inauguration' directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented, and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus.”

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

24 Sep 2020 1 3

Josep Borrell

Inserted 3 years ago

“Although there is a clear will to adopt the sanctions, the required unanimity was not reached. If we are not able to (approve Belarus sanctions), then our credibility is at stake.”

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

21 Sep 2020 2 3

Alexander Lukashenko

Inserted 3 years ago

“Economy is the basis for everything and we have always been sticking to this point of view, believe me. And these developments have demonstrated that we should stay closer to our elder brother and cooperate on all issues, including economic ones.”

President of Belarus

14 Sep 2020 3 3

Paval Latushka

Inserted 3 years ago

“It is a very important and necessary signal to Belarusian society. The time for the declaration has already passed. Actions are needed. The European Union taught us! Taught us democracy! Now it is time to help.”

Belarus opposition activist

10 Sep 2020 2 2

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Inserted 3 years ago

“The protests must remain peaceful. I think it is impossible to fight violence and give violence”

Belarus leader Lukashenko’s leading election challenger and the wife of an opposition blogger

09 Sep 2020 0 1

Alexander Lukashenko

Inserted 3 years ago

“Together with two fellow travelers last night she tried to leave for Ukraine. At the border crossing, they presented documents to Belarusian border guards, after which they were allowed into the territory between the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine. Here, during a second check, Kolesnikova was thrown out of the car, and her fellow travelers in the car broke into the territory of Ukraine.”

Politico

President of Belarus

08 Sep 2020 3 2

Anton Gerashchenko

Inserted 3 years ago

“Kolesnikova could not be expelled from Belarus, because this brave woman took action to prevent her movement across the border. She remained on the territory of Belarus.”

Politico

Ukrainian deputy interior minister

08 Sep 2020 2 2

Daragh McDowell

Inserted 3 years ago

“The IT sector has been repeatedly undermined with the internet shutdowns to disrupt the protesters. We've also seen a lot of strikes in the state-owned sector as well. So the Belarussian economy is really on the brink. The people have lost their fear of Lukashenko, he's lost a lot of his authority. No matter how many riot police he's deployed to the streets, it just hasn't stopped people from continuing to come out.”

Principal analyst at the global consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft

07 Sep 2020 3 4

Volha Kovalkova

Inserted 3 years ago

“Representatives of the militia and the Interior Ministry of Belarus came to me and said that if I did not agree to leave, I would face long arrests.”