Déjà-vu or a breakthrough? The Status Quo and the Future Prospects of Belarus
Déjà-vu or a breakthrough?
The Status Quo and the Future Prospects of Belarus
4 May, 17:00 CEST
An IDMonSite-interview with Katsiaryna Shmatsina moderated by Malwina Talik
in the framework of the event series
“70 Years of the IDM – Locating the Future”
Belarus’ nation-wide demonstrations against “the last dictator of Europe” in 2020 raised hopes for a democratic turn in the country. After the regime’s brutal response, political opponents, activists and critics faced a choice between persecutions or exile. Among those who had to flee the country was Katsiaryna Shmatsina, the guest of the IDMonSite. In a conversation with Malwina Talik (IDM) she analysed the situation in Belarus in the aftermath of the crackdown, the reasons for the endurance of Lukashenko’s regime, the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Belarusian society and the international standing of the country. The interview addressed the questions of the future of Belarus under the current circumstances and some less obvious positive developments that could turn the tide.
Katsiaryna Shmatsina is a Belarusian political analyst and a PhD Fellow at Virginia Tech University (Washington, DC), focused on critical geopolitics and security studies.