Hard power, Soft Counterpower: Belarus and Russia in Exile

2024-06-10

MINSK - A totalitarian state has emerged in Belarus and Russia since the suppression of pro-democracy protests in Belarus and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Criticism and anti-war voices are suppressed with draconian punishments. Democratic Belarusians and Russians are building the alternative in the Baltics and the Caucasus.

The Belarusian opposition built a government-in-exile, with ministries drawing up policy plans and even representing Belarus to the EU. The free press moved to Lithuania, where they now often have more readers and viewers than before. Independent Russian media and NGOs are also stronger than ever in exile in the Caucasus, even though the geopolitical web there creates uncertainty and instability.

Is this a model for democrats in countries where the space for democratic action is non-existent: rebuilding the pillars of democracy in a neighbouring country that offers the space to do so?

Photo: © Emiel Petrovitch

Team members

Pieter Stockmans

Pieter Stockmans is a Belgian journalist.

Emiel Petrovitch

Emiel Petrovich (pseudonym) is a Belgian photographer.

Supported

€6,950 allocated on 11/03/2024

FPD/2024/2168

Grant

Pascal Decroos Fund

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