Hanna Liubakova
@hannaliubakova.bsky.social
Belarusian independent journalist in exile | Non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council | Telling Belarus as it is
Z okazji Dnia Niepodległości życzę Polsce wytrwałości, odwagi i mądrości. Polska często jest przykładem dla przyszłości Białorusi.
Niech Białoruś będzie demokratyczna - dobrym sąsiadem i partnerem dla Polski!
Niech Białoruś będzie demokratyczna - dobrym sąsiadem i partnerem dla Polski!
November 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Z okazji Dnia Niepodległości życzę Polsce wytrwałości, odwagi i mądrości. Polska często jest przykładem dla przyszłości Białorusi.
Niech Białoruś będzie demokratyczna - dobrym sąsiadem i partnerem dla Polski!
Niech Białoruś będzie demokratyczna - dobrym sąsiadem i partnerem dla Polski!
Minsk: until #Lithuania restores normal traffic, trucks with Lithuanian plates are banned from crossing the Belarusian border. Over 1,100 vehicles are stranded inside #Belarus - 800 already placed at "special parking zones." Regime claims the move is for "safety" on border roads.
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Minsk: until #Lithuania restores normal traffic, trucks with Lithuanian plates are banned from crossing the Belarusian border. Over 1,100 vehicles are stranded inside #Belarus - 800 already placed at "special parking zones." Regime claims the move is for "safety" on border roads.
#Belarus Raman Bandarenka was my age. An aspiring artist. One night, he went out to protect a white-red-white ribbon installation in his Minsk courtyard. Lukashenka's masked thugs came to tear it down. Raman was beaten, taken away in a van, and later died in hospital.
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
#Belarus Raman Bandarenka was my age. An aspiring artist. One night, he went out to protect a white-red-white ribbon installation in his Minsk courtyard. Lukashenka's masked thugs came to tear it down. Raman was beaten, taken away in a van, and later died in hospital.
Thrilled to announce the launch of my new Atlantic Council report, "Minsk in Moscow's Grip: How #Russia Subjugated #Belarus Without Annexation."
Join us virtually on Thursday, November 13 at 1:00 pm ET to discuss how Belarus fell under Moscow's control.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/report...
Join us virtually on Thursday, November 13 at 1:00 pm ET to discuss how Belarus fell under Moscow's control.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/report...
Report launch: How Russia subjugated Belarus without annexation
The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines how Russia subjugated Belarus into a Russian satellite without formally annexing the country.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Thrilled to announce the launch of my new Atlantic Council report, "Minsk in Moscow's Grip: How #Russia Subjugated #Belarus Without Annexation."
Join us virtually on Thursday, November 13 at 1:00 pm ET to discuss how Belarus fell under Moscow's control.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/report...
Join us virtually on Thursday, November 13 at 1:00 pm ET to discuss how Belarus fell under Moscow's control.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/report...
#Belarus More than 1,000 Lithuanian trucks are still stuck on the Belarusian side. Lukashenka demands 120 EUR per truck per day to stay. This is outright hostage-taking. The regime could let them cross, but its intent is clearly harassment.
November 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
#Belarus More than 1,000 Lithuanian trucks are still stuck on the Belarusian side. Lukashenka demands 120 EUR per truck per day to stay. This is outright hostage-taking. The regime could let them cross, but its intent is clearly harassment.
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
#Belarus Viktar Babaryka turns 62 today - marking his sixth birthday in captivity. Former presidential candidate and political prisoner, Babaryka remains isolated, with little information on his condition. We know that he is surveilled, repeatedly punished and mistreated.
November 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
#Belarus Viktar Babaryka turns 62 today - marking his sixth birthday in captivity. Former presidential candidate and political prisoner, Babaryka remains isolated, with little information on his condition. We know that he is surveilled, repeatedly punished and mistreated.
#Belarus At 10 pm CET on Saturday, speaking in Polish (!) about most recent escalations by the Lukashenka regime against Lithuania, Poland and NATO. Will get you a final link to the interview once I have it.
I wish I could have the same level of Polish that I had before 2020!
I wish I could have the same level of Polish that I had before 2020!
November 8, 2025 at 9:44 PM
#Belarus At 10 pm CET on Saturday, speaking in Polish (!) about most recent escalations by the Lukashenka regime against Lithuania, Poland and NATO. Will get you a final link to the interview once I have it.
I wish I could have the same level of Polish that I had before 2020!
I wish I could have the same level of Polish that I had before 2020!
Vilnius Airport has once again suspended operations due to balloons - until 11:45 pm.
When will the regime stop its provocations?
When will the regime stop its provocations?
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Vilnius Airport has once again suspended operations due to balloons - until 11:45 pm.
When will the regime stop its provocations?
When will the regime stop its provocations?
#Belarus is the only country in the world where the Day of the October Revolution remains a state holiday. A small number of people still celebrate it, and the Communist Party continues to exist 😨
November 8, 2025 at 10:14 AM
#Belarus is the only country in the world where the Day of the October Revolution remains a state holiday. A small number of people still celebrate it, and the Communist Party continues to exist 😨
In the article for Salt, I shared insights on how journalists from the post-Soviet region can break into international media. I spoke about building visibility and credibility through socila media, starting small before aiming for large outlets.
In Russian:
salt.press-club.pro/actual/the-g...
In Russian:
salt.press-club.pro/actual/the-g...
«The Guardian или Politico – цель, но не первая ступень» Как попасть в обойму иностранного медиа
Опубликоваться в зарубежном медиа – цель многих журналистов из постсоветского пространства. Мы поговорили с Анной Любаковой, журналисткой и аналитиком американского центра Atlantic Council
salt.press-club.pro
November 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
In the article for Salt, I shared insights on how journalists from the post-Soviet region can break into international media. I spoke about building visibility and credibility through socila media, starting small before aiming for large outlets.
In Russian:
salt.press-club.pro/actual/the-g...
In Russian:
salt.press-club.pro/actual/the-g...
Russians injured in shelling in the Belgorod region will be rehabilitated in #Belarus sanatoriums. The program is organized by the so-called 'union state' committee and Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, who is under US sanctions.
November 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Russians injured in shelling in the Belgorod region will be rehabilitated in #Belarus sanatoriums. The program is organized by the so-called 'union state' committee and Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, who is under US sanctions.
A quick update on #Belarus's economy:
The trade deficit keeps deepening - now $4.5 billion, up $700 million in a month. Manufacturing is faltering, inventories are piling up, and more enterprises are running at a loss.
Expect more outreach to the West.
The trade deficit keeps deepening - now $4.5 billion, up $700 million in a month. Manufacturing is faltering, inventories are piling up, and more enterprises are running at a loss.
Expect more outreach to the West.
November 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
A quick update on #Belarus's economy:
The trade deficit keeps deepening - now $4.5 billion, up $700 million in a month. Manufacturing is faltering, inventories are piling up, and more enterprises are running at a loss.
Expect more outreach to the West.
The trade deficit keeps deepening - now $4.5 billion, up $700 million in a month. Manufacturing is faltering, inventories are piling up, and more enterprises are running at a loss.
Expect more outreach to the West.
Why did the regime not deescalate or offer this as a goodwill gesture? #Belarus rejected Lithuania's plea to let blocked trucks pass, blaming Lithuania's unilateral border closure for the crisis harming all sides. Minsk keeps the pressure despite harm to its own citizens.
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Why did the regime not deescalate or offer this as a goodwill gesture? #Belarus rejected Lithuania's plea to let blocked trucks pass, blaming Lithuania's unilateral border closure for the crisis harming all sides. Minsk keeps the pressure despite harm to its own citizens.
#Belarus Belarusian lawyer Katsiaryna Zhautanoha - who defended activist and political prisoner Stsiapan Latypau - ended up arrested as well. She has been convicted in a criminal case for "inciting hatred." Her law license was revoked in July 2021. She helped 2020 detainees pro bono.
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
#Belarus Belarusian lawyer Katsiaryna Zhautanoha - who defended activist and political prisoner Stsiapan Latypau - ended up arrested as well. She has been convicted in a criminal case for "inciting hatred." Her law license was revoked in July 2021. She helped 2020 detainees pro bono.
One thing that's hard to explain to those who've never lived through repression and exile is why I dread holidays. Everyone goes home and spends time with their families - something I can't do. (Sharing this as a fact, not looking for sympathy. I'm already used to it.)
November 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
One thing that's hard to explain to those who've never lived through repression and exile is why I dread holidays. Everyone goes home and spends time with their families - something I can't do. (Sharing this as a fact, not looking for sympathy. I'm already used to it.)
#Ukraine Angelina Jolie visited Kherson, a city under fire by Russian forces, showing solidarity and support by visiting medical facilities, including a maternity hospital. Her humanitarian mission shines a light on the resilience of Ukrainians amid war.
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
#Ukraine Angelina Jolie visited Kherson, a city under fire by Russian forces, showing solidarity and support by visiting medical facilities, including a maternity hospital. Her humanitarian mission shines a light on the resilience of Ukrainians amid war.
You can now read my latest Atlantic Council article, translated into Ukrainian and Russian by nv.ua. It's about the balloons launched from #Belarus to harass #Lithuania - one of the reasons the country eventually closed its border.
nv.ua/ukr/opinion/...
nv.ua/ukr/opinion/...
Частиною гібридної війни РФ стають повітряні кулі
Порушення повітряного простору ЄС білоруськими «кулями» є частиною кампанії Кремля з перевірки рішучості Заходу
nv.ua
November 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
You can now read my latest Atlantic Council article, translated into Ukrainian and Russian by nv.ua. It's about the balloons launched from #Belarus to harass #Lithuania - one of the reasons the country eventually closed its border.
nv.ua/ukr/opinion/...
nv.ua/ukr/opinion/...
I have this line in my bio:
In retaliation for her work, the Lukashenka regime sentenced her in absentia to ten years in prison. She is wanted by authorities in Russia and across all CIS countries.
I prefer to keep it there - because in #Belarus, that’s also part of the job.
In retaliation for her work, the Lukashenka regime sentenced her in absentia to ten years in prison. She is wanted by authorities in Russia and across all CIS countries.
I prefer to keep it there - because in #Belarus, that’s also part of the job.
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I have this line in my bio:
In retaliation for her work, the Lukashenka regime sentenced her in absentia to ten years in prison. She is wanted by authorities in Russia and across all CIS countries.
I prefer to keep it there - because in #Belarus, that’s also part of the job.
In retaliation for her work, the Lukashenka regime sentenced her in absentia to ten years in prison. She is wanted by authorities in Russia and across all CIS countries.
I prefer to keep it there - because in #Belarus, that’s also part of the job.
#Lithuania Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed again this morning after a drone was spotted. Airspace restrictions were introduced around 9:50 am.
November 5, 2025 at 12:21 PM
#Lithuania Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed again this morning after a drone was spotted. Airspace restrictions were introduced around 9:50 am.
Dzmitry Navosha, founder of Tribuna, a major sports media project active in #Belarus, Ukraine & internationally, is labelled a terrorist by the Belarusian KGB. This label leads to banks blocking his & the company’s transactions. This is how the regime is trying to get us.
November 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Dzmitry Navosha, founder of Tribuna, a major sports media project active in #Belarus, Ukraine & internationally, is labelled a terrorist by the Belarusian KGB. This label leads to banks blocking his & the company’s transactions. This is how the regime is trying to get us.
It's been more than 50 days without any information about Mikalai Statkevich, who refused to get deported from #Belarus. The regime released him & others in exchange for sanction lifting. Where is he now? While Lukashenka gets what he wants, is Mikalai even alive?
November 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
It's been more than 50 days without any information about Mikalai Statkevich, who refused to get deported from #Belarus. The regime released him & others in exchange for sanction lifting. Where is he now? While Lukashenka gets what he wants, is Mikalai even alive?
#Belarus Read my latest: Growing tensions on the Lithuanian border with Belarus should serve as further confirmation that Lukashenka remains fully committed to participating in #Russia’s confrontation with the West.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
Belarusian balloons pose new threat in Putin’s hybrid war against Europe
Lithuanian officials have accused neighboring Belarus of using balloons to violate EU airspace and disrupt air traffic as part of the Kremlin's ongoing hybrid war against Europe, writes Hanna Liubakov...
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:39 AM
#Belarus Read my latest: Growing tensions on the Lithuanian border with Belarus should serve as further confirmation that Lukashenka remains fully committed to participating in #Russia’s confrontation with the West.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
Journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva turns 32 today - behind bars. She was detained just weeks after celebrating her 27th birthday and later sentenced to 8 years in prison. Her husband, Ihar Ilyash, could have left #Belarus but chose to stay by her side - and has now been arrested.
November 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva turns 32 today - behind bars. She was detained just weeks after celebrating her 27th birthday and later sentenced to 8 years in prison. Her husband, Ihar Ilyash, could have left #Belarus but chose to stay by her side - and has now been arrested.