600 Political Prisoners and Athlete Defectors Detained... Belarus President Strengthens Iron-Fist Rule

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, who seized power in 1994, has been in long-term rule for 27 years, and foreign media have evaluated that Lukashenko's iron-fisted rule is becoming increasingly severe.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) pointed out on the 8th (local time) that one year after Belarus's presidential election, the government is asserting more authority and suppressing opposing voices.

Recently, during the Tokyo Olympics, Belarusian short-distance track and field national representative Kristina Tsimanouskaya faced forced repatriation after criticizing her national athletics team. Concerned for her safety, Tsimanouskaya sought asylum in Poland.

Christina Chimanouskaya Photo by AP Yonhap News

On the 3rd, Vitaly Shishov, a dissident who had been active in Ukraine to escape Belarusian authorities' oppression, was found hanged in a park in Kyiv, raising suspicions of involvement by the Lukashenko regime.

Ukrainian investigative authorities are focusing on the possibility of murder disguised as a suicide and are conducting investigations.

Five years ago, journalist Pavel Sheremet, who had criticized the Belarusian authorities, died when the car he was riding in exploded in Kyiv.

At that time, there were suspicions that agents of the Belarusian regime remotely detonated a bomb installed in the vehicle.

A Belarusian dissident said, "The death of Shishov is meant to intimidate Belarusians who have fled abroad," adding, "It is certain that this follows the footsteps of Russian President Vladimir Putin."

Belarus has long been under global scrutiny. Following allegations of election fraud immediately after the presidential election, numerous citizens took to the streets last year. The ruling power responded with harsh suppression.

Additionally, prosecutors labeled peaceful protesters and opposition figures as extremists and conducted targeted investigations. The number of investigations initiated related to protests exceeds 4,700 cases.

Belarusian human rights organization Viasna reported that over 600 political prisoners were detained as of last month.

The Lukashenko government has mobilized the Belarus KGB, the successor to the Soviet-era state security agency KGB, to detain or expel key anti-government figures.

In May, a passenger plane carrying opposition-leaning journalist Raman Pratasevich was forcibly landed in Belarus, and he was placed under house arrest.

Raman Pratasevich (second from the left) [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The passenger plane, traveling from Athens, Greece to Vilnius, Lithuania, was forced to land using fighter jets when passing through Belarusian airspace.

A psychologist who was detained twice after last year's presidential election said, "Until a year ago, I did not expect the situation to escalate this much," adding, "People have become accustomed to violence."

The United States and the European Union (EU) have strongly condemned Belarus's election manipulation allegations and human rights abuses and imposed sanctions, but President Lukashenko remains indifferent and continues to strengthen his iron-fisted rule.

It is pointed out that Russia's strong support makes Western sanctions ineffective.

Russia, as a former Soviet member, has provided financial and military support to Belarus and has openly protected the Lukashenko regime.

This raises doubts about whether Western sanctions can realistically change the situation in Belarus.

On the 8th, Belarusians held a protest against the Alexander Lukashenko regime in Kyiv, Ukraine. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Belarusian dissidents are currently raising their voices, saying that Western sanctions are insufficient and that stronger measures must be taken.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.