Hanna Liubakova
@hannaliubakova.bsky.social
Belarusian independent journalist in exile | Non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council | Telling Belarus as it is
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke with the newly appointed special envoy to #Belarus, John Coale. Releasing political prisoners and ending repression must remain top priorities.
I hope they also discussed the fate of Mikalai Statkevich, whose whereabouts are not known.
I hope they also discussed the fate of Mikalai Statkevich, whose whereabouts are not known.
November 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke with the newly appointed special envoy to #Belarus, John Coale. Releasing political prisoners and ending repression must remain top priorities.
I hope they also discussed the fate of Mikalai Statkevich, whose whereabouts are not known.
I hope they also discussed the fate of Mikalai Statkevich, whose whereabouts are not known.
Here's my in-depth report on #Belarus's deepening dependence on #Russia - and what Belarusians think about the last five years. From military bases to economic lifelines, political shifts, geopolitical ramifications, and cultural tides, I cover it all. Join us this Thursday for the virtual launch.
November 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Here's my in-depth report on #Belarus's deepening dependence on #Russia - and what Belarusians think about the last five years. From military bases to economic lifelines, political shifts, geopolitical ramifications, and cultural tides, I cover it all. Join us this Thursday for the virtual launch.
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.
Raman Bandarenka's death became one of the symbols of #Belarus's 2020 uprising - a reminder of the courage and the cost of standing up to a dictatorship.
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Raman Bandarenka's death became one of the symbols of #Belarus's 2020 uprising - a reminder of the courage and the cost of standing up to a dictatorship.
Belarusians protested his killing. Thousands gathered to honour Raman Bandarenka. The rally was brutally dispersed. That's when journalist Kaciaryna Andreeva was arrested - she was live-streaming from the scene.
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Belarusians protested his killing. Thousands gathered to honour Raman Bandarenka. The rally was brutally dispersed. That's when journalist Kaciaryna Andreeva was arrested - she was live-streaming from the scene.
"I'm going out."
Those were the last words Raman sent to his neighbourhood Telegram chat before he was taken by Lukashenka's bandits. He didn't come back.
Our independent investigators identified the thugs. No criminal case was launched - they are close to Lukashenka.
Those were the last words Raman sent to his neighbourhood Telegram chat before he was taken by Lukashenka's bandits. He didn't come back.
Our independent investigators identified the thugs. No criminal case was launched - they are close to Lukashenka.
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
"I'm going out."
Those were the last words Raman sent to his neighbourhood Telegram chat before he was taken by Lukashenka's bandits. He didn't come back.
Our independent investigators identified the thugs. No criminal case was launched - they are close to Lukashenka.
Those were the last words Raman sent to his neighbourhood Telegram chat before he was taken by Lukashenka's bandits. He didn't come back.
Our independent investigators identified the thugs. No criminal case was launched - they are close to Lukashenka.
#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.
#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!
#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.
#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.
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?
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.
Poland made a gesture and promised to reopen the border, but the Belarusian MFA responded that it's not up to #Poland or #Lithuania to decide when that happens. "We'll reopen only when we're fully ready," said the MFA spokesperson. All sources are below.
De-escalation, no less!
De-escalation, no less!
October 31, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Poland made a gesture and promised to reopen the border, but the Belarusian MFA responded that it's not up to #Poland or #Lithuania to decide when that happens. "We'll reopen only when we're fully ready," said the MFA spokesperson. All sources are below.
De-escalation, no less!
De-escalation, no less!
Eventually, support from evacuation group BySol helped him escape to Lithuania and then Poland to reunite with his son and friends.
October 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Eventually, support from evacuation group BySol helped him escape to Lithuania and then Poland to reunite with his son and friends.
His survival skills were rooted in childhood but the psychological toll was heavy. He feared wildlife less than the police and when vehicles passed, feared capture.
October 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
His survival skills were rooted in childhood but the psychological toll was heavy. He feared wildlife less than the police and when vehicles passed, feared capture.
Fearing further imprisonment, he obtained camping gear, found a remote clearing, and lived in the forest for 20 days, occasionally going to a village for phone charging and supplies.
October 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Fearing further imprisonment, he obtained camping gear, found a remote clearing, and lived in the forest for 20 days, occasionally going to a village for phone charging and supplies.
In #Belarus, ex-political prisoner Aliaksandr Khudzichau spent his home detention but faced the threat of being sent to prison for violations. Determined not to return to harsh conditions, he fled to the forest near Viciebsk, where he hid for 20 days.
In the forest.
In the forest.
October 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
In #Belarus, ex-political prisoner Aliaksandr Khudzichau spent his home detention but faced the threat of being sent to prison for violations. Determined not to return to harsh conditions, he fled to the forest near Viciebsk, where he hid for 20 days.
In the forest.
In the forest.
#Lithuania has reportedly closed its border with #Belarus again after a wave of contraband balloons triggered repeated airspace shutdowns. Airspace over Vilnius is closed until 01:40. Longer-term measures are now under review.
An examples of a balloon shown in photo.
An examples of a balloon shown in photo.
October 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
#Lithuania has reportedly closed its border with #Belarus again after a wave of contraband balloons triggered repeated airspace shutdowns. Airspace over Vilnius is closed until 01:40. Longer-term measures are now under review.
An examples of a balloon shown in photo.
An examples of a balloon shown in photo.
#Belarus Three Belarusian women, including a 62-year-old teacher, were sentenced to prison and massive fines for organizing a local online chat group. Their case exposes how so-called extremism laws are being weaponized to crush community networks and silence ordinary citizens.
October 25, 2025 at 10:19 AM
#Belarus Three Belarusian women, including a 62-year-old teacher, were sentenced to prison and massive fines for organizing a local online chat group. Their case exposes how so-called extremism laws are being weaponized to crush community networks and silence ordinary citizens.
