Lukashenko

October 2020International News2020Europe

Arrest of Russian Mercenaries in Belarus Impact Eastern European Security

According to CNN, Belarusian security forces arrested 33 Russian mercenaries on charges of terrorism and destabilization prior to the country’s contested election in August. The mercenaries work for Wagner, a private military firm known to be the righthand of the Russian military. Wagner is believed to be sponsored by St. Petersburg businessman and oligarch, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.  The BBC reports that the firm is also believed to be covertly overseen by Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.

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September 2020Eastern EuropeInternational News2020Europe

“Europe’s Last Dictator” Sparks Protest in Belarus Following Contested Presidential Election

Belarus has been gripped with violent protests caused by the controversial re-election of president Alexander Lukashenko. According to CNN, the country’s Central Election Commission announced that Alexander Lukashenko won with 80.23% of the vote, while opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya stood at 9.9%.

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