Many dissidents who've fled Belarus since the 2020 protests report systematic threats and harassment from the Lukashenko regime, compelling them to navigate a dangerous landscape even in exile.
Belarusian Dissidents Abroad Face Ongoing Threats from Regime
Belarusian Dissidents Abroad Face Ongoing Threats from Regime
Exiled Belarusian activists confront relentless intimidation tactics from their home country's government, targeting both them and their families.
Article Text: Dissidents who escaped the oppressive rule of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus are voicing concern over persistent threats aimed at them and their families back home. Since the brutal suppression of widespread protests in 2020, which followed disputed presidential elections, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have sought refuge abroad.
Among those exiled is Tatsiana Ashurkevich, a 26-year-old journalist who continued her work documenting Belarusian events. Recently, she discovered that her apartment door in Minsk had been sealed with construction foam, an act she quickly associated with intimidation tactics from the regime. When she confronted an Instagram follower who had harassed her, the man offered to assist her in exchange for information about Belarusians fighting in Ukraine—an exchange she firmly rejected.
According to human rights organizations like Viasna, the past five years have seen tens of thousands arrested for political offenses in Belarus. However, many opposition figures have also found themselves harassed beyond their borders. Authorities in Belarus regularly accuse exiled activists of treachery and conspiring with foreign powers against national security. The message is clear: anyone who opposes Lukashenko could face repercussions, regardless of their location.
Anna Krasulina, 55, who works as a press secretary for opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is familiar with these threats. She often receives disturbing calls and messages, which she now ignores to retain some semblance of peace. Both she and Ashurkevich have received unjust prison sentences in absentia for charges such as preparing a coup, reflecting the regime's aggressive stance against dissent even from afar.
Since a decree in 2022, more than 200 political cases have been initiated against exiled opposition members, empowering authorities to intimidate their families in Belarus. Many activists have been deterred from participating in protests due to fears for their loved ones.
Reports from Belarus confirm that even family members of critics living abroad are subjected to harassment. One exile, who requested anonymity for their safety, described the helplessness of watching family members receiving visits from authorities, raising the stakes for active dissidents.
The strategy appears deliberate: breaking the connections between those who have fled and those who remain. Journalist Hanna Liubakova, sentenced to ten years in prison in absentia, emphasizes the calculated effort to instill fear and discourage communication among Belarusians. As Lukashenko's government has added names to lists of "extremists," many citizens are reluctant to speak out, fearing associations with dissidents.
Andrei Strizhak, leader of the Bysol support group for Belarusian activists, compares these tactics to the mechanisms employed by the Soviet KGB, albeit with modern technologies. While some might yield to pressure or offers of cooperation for personal gain, the overarching climate is one of prolonged intimidation—what Strizhak describes as a "war of attrition" against those holding onto the hope for freedom.
Despite the mounting pressure, Stizhak reassures that Belarusian exiles are making efforts to remain resilient. Yet, he recognizes that each passing year demands more emotional and physical strength from activists fighting for their country’s future.
Among those exiled is Tatsiana Ashurkevich, a 26-year-old journalist who continued her work documenting Belarusian events. Recently, she discovered that her apartment door in Minsk had been sealed with construction foam, an act she quickly associated with intimidation tactics from the regime. When she confronted an Instagram follower who had harassed her, the man offered to assist her in exchange for information about Belarusians fighting in Ukraine—an exchange she firmly rejected.
According to human rights organizations like Viasna, the past five years have seen tens of thousands arrested for political offenses in Belarus. However, many opposition figures have also found themselves harassed beyond their borders. Authorities in Belarus regularly accuse exiled activists of treachery and conspiring with foreign powers against national security. The message is clear: anyone who opposes Lukashenko could face repercussions, regardless of their location.
Anna Krasulina, 55, who works as a press secretary for opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is familiar with these threats. She often receives disturbing calls and messages, which she now ignores to retain some semblance of peace. Both she and Ashurkevich have received unjust prison sentences in absentia for charges such as preparing a coup, reflecting the regime's aggressive stance against dissent even from afar.
Since a decree in 2022, more than 200 political cases have been initiated against exiled opposition members, empowering authorities to intimidate their families in Belarus. Many activists have been deterred from participating in protests due to fears for their loved ones.
Reports from Belarus confirm that even family members of critics living abroad are subjected to harassment. One exile, who requested anonymity for their safety, described the helplessness of watching family members receiving visits from authorities, raising the stakes for active dissidents.
The strategy appears deliberate: breaking the connections between those who have fled and those who remain. Journalist Hanna Liubakova, sentenced to ten years in prison in absentia, emphasizes the calculated effort to instill fear and discourage communication among Belarusians. As Lukashenko's government has added names to lists of "extremists," many citizens are reluctant to speak out, fearing associations with dissidents.
Andrei Strizhak, leader of the Bysol support group for Belarusian activists, compares these tactics to the mechanisms employed by the Soviet KGB, albeit with modern technologies. While some might yield to pressure or offers of cooperation for personal gain, the overarching climate is one of prolonged intimidation—what Strizhak describes as a "war of attrition" against those holding onto the hope for freedom.
Despite the mounting pressure, Stizhak reassures that Belarusian exiles are making efforts to remain resilient. Yet, he recognizes that each passing year demands more emotional and physical strength from activists fighting for their country’s future.
