Belarusian dissidents who have sought refuge abroad recount vivid experiences of harassment and intimidation from their home government, with authorities employing modern tactics reminiscent of the KGB.
The Constant Threat: Belarus Dissidents Abroad Face Harassment and Intimidation
The Constant Threat: Belarus Dissidents Abroad Face Harassment and Intimidation
Exiled Belarusian dissidents detail alarming threats from authorities, highlighting the continued persecution they face even outside their homeland.
The peril for Belarusian dissidents extends beyond their homeland, as many who have escaped Alexander Lukashenko's regime now face a chilling campaign of harassment and intimidation from authorities. This threat is particularly concerning for those who continue to speak out against the government or provide insight into the ongoing brutal repression in Belarus.
Since 2020, following the disputed presidential elections that spurred massive protests and a ruthless crackdown, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have fled the nation. Among these is Tatsiana Ashurkevich, a journalist whose home door in Minsk was recently sealed with construction foam—a clear message from unknown assailants about the risks awaiting those in opposition. The act was symptomatic of the persistent threats creeping into the lives of exiled dissidents.
Upon receiving unsettling messages from a mysterious Instagram follower, Ashurkevich confronted him, expressing her fears about her safety and that of her family back home. In response, he shifted to a calculating tone, relating emerging “criminal cases” while seeking potentially compromising information about Belarusians battling in Ukraine. Ultimately, Ashurkevich severed communication, but incidences like this signify the relentless intimidation tactics employed against those critical of the regime.
Human rights organization Viasna reports that tens of thousands have faced arrest for political dissent over the past five years, highlighting a pattern of suppression that extends internationally. Officials claim they are safeguarding national interests, dismissing protests by dissidents abroad as treachery. Many exiles, like Anna Krasulina, serving as a press secretary for opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, are well aware of this pervasive surveillance, leading them to adopt preventive measures such as putting their phones in flight mode overnight.
Legal changes in 2022 paved the way for the Belarusian government to pursue cases against political opponents living abroad, leading to over 200 trials that have culminated in harsh sentences for many dissidents. The chilling effect this has on activism is evident—many fear for the safety of their loved ones still within Belarusian borders. Reports have surfaced of relatives being contacted by security services, further demonstrating the regime's intent to disrupt any continuity of opposition.
The Biden and taxicab verdicts of Lukashenko’s government have left troubling echoes, striking fear into families of activists like Artem Lebedko, sentenced for facilitating extremism due to his father’s opposition ties. Journalist Hanna Liubakova, who carries her own 10-year prison sentence, suggests that such measures are designed to fracture familial bonds and undermine solidarity among dissidents.
The strategic efforts employed by the regime have drawn comparisons to Soviet-era tactics of oppression, with Andrei Strizhak, a head of a group supporting exiled activists, calling it a “war of attrition.” He points out that threats and coercive demands have their intended effect on some; however, most remain steadfast in their desire for resistance.
As these dissidents continue to grapple with their haunting circumstances, they affirm their resolve to remain resilient against such intimidation, despite the growing fatigue from constant vigilance and the pressure to conform. Facing mounting struggles, their unwavering spirit underscores the deep impact of Belarus’s oppressive governmental actions, even from afar.
Since 2020, following the disputed presidential elections that spurred massive protests and a ruthless crackdown, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have fled the nation. Among these is Tatsiana Ashurkevich, a journalist whose home door in Minsk was recently sealed with construction foam—a clear message from unknown assailants about the risks awaiting those in opposition. The act was symptomatic of the persistent threats creeping into the lives of exiled dissidents.
Upon receiving unsettling messages from a mysterious Instagram follower, Ashurkevich confronted him, expressing her fears about her safety and that of her family back home. In response, he shifted to a calculating tone, relating emerging “criminal cases” while seeking potentially compromising information about Belarusians battling in Ukraine. Ultimately, Ashurkevich severed communication, but incidences like this signify the relentless intimidation tactics employed against those critical of the regime.
Human rights organization Viasna reports that tens of thousands have faced arrest for political dissent over the past five years, highlighting a pattern of suppression that extends internationally. Officials claim they are safeguarding national interests, dismissing protests by dissidents abroad as treachery. Many exiles, like Anna Krasulina, serving as a press secretary for opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, are well aware of this pervasive surveillance, leading them to adopt preventive measures such as putting their phones in flight mode overnight.
Legal changes in 2022 paved the way for the Belarusian government to pursue cases against political opponents living abroad, leading to over 200 trials that have culminated in harsh sentences for many dissidents. The chilling effect this has on activism is evident—many fear for the safety of their loved ones still within Belarusian borders. Reports have surfaced of relatives being contacted by security services, further demonstrating the regime's intent to disrupt any continuity of opposition.
The Biden and taxicab verdicts of Lukashenko’s government have left troubling echoes, striking fear into families of activists like Artem Lebedko, sentenced for facilitating extremism due to his father’s opposition ties. Journalist Hanna Liubakova, who carries her own 10-year prison sentence, suggests that such measures are designed to fracture familial bonds and undermine solidarity among dissidents.
The strategic efforts employed by the regime have drawn comparisons to Soviet-era tactics of oppression, with Andrei Strizhak, a head of a group supporting exiled activists, calling it a “war of attrition.” He points out that threats and coercive demands have their intended effect on some; however, most remain steadfast in their desire for resistance.
As these dissidents continue to grapple with their haunting circumstances, they affirm their resolve to remain resilient against such intimidation, despite the growing fatigue from constant vigilance and the pressure to conform. Facing mounting struggles, their unwavering spirit underscores the deep impact of Belarus’s oppressive governmental actions, even from afar.
