European Chat: Belarus' Future Perspectives in Russia's Shadow | Prague European Summit 2022

The war in Ukraine had severe ramifications for the fledgling democratic opposition in Belarus. As Putin has used Belarus as a staging point for its illegal invasion of Ukraine and actively includes Belarus in its strategic considerations, President Lukashenko has capitalized on the war and Belarus' strategic importance to Russia as a pretext for solidifying his autocratic government. While all focus is currently on Ukraine, the question of the future of Belarus' democratic aspirations remains of great importance
to the EU.

1) How is the outlook on Belarussian democracy and liberty now that Russia is both using it as one of its staging points for the war in Ukraine, essentially making it a Russian vassal state?
2) How is the opposition, which was slowly acquiring influence before the invasion, faring under this new reality?
3) Have the various sanctions by the EU towards Belarus had an effect in your view?

Host: Vladimir Astapenko, Deputy Head of the National Crisis Management of Belarus and Head of Mission for Democratic Belarus in Brussels
Moderator: Jamie Fly, President and Chief Executive Officer of RFE/RL