Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Poland Remains Divided Over Legacy Of 1989 Solidarity Revolution

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:26:38 +0000

On June 4, 1989, Poles voted in semi-democratic parliamentary elections, handing a landslide victory to opposition candidates fielded by the Solidarity trade union. The communists duly ceded defeat, paving the way for Solidarity to form a government.

Belarusian President In From The Cold, But Unrepentant

Wed, 06 May 2009 14:52:57 +0000

Belarus's president is back -- with big ideas, a five-year-old heir, and an excellent mood. Hints that he might offer government jobs to political opponents could prove the only bright spot for Alyaksandr Lukashenka's detractors, as Europe appears to embrace an authoritarian leader without reforming him in the least.

Repaying An Overdue Debt To Polish History

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:29:56 +0000

"Katyn," a film by Polish veteran director Andrzej Wajda, may not be a masterpiece, but the film will surely embed itself in the memory of viewers. If not for its artistic message, then at least for its stunning finale -- the massacre of Polish officers by the Soviet NKVD.

What Do Belarus's Elections Mean For The Opposition?

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:18:07 +0000

Political opponents will have to figure out how to survive under the circumstances of their increasing marginalization by the authorities and voters alike. For its part, the West will have to determine whether to keep its eggs in the opposition basket, or open a dialogue with President Lukashenka.

Opposition In Belarus, Azerbaijan Differ Over Election Boycotts

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:00:22 +0000

Azerbaijan and Belarus are both authoritarian regimes in which opposition political parties, while guaranteed freedom to function by the constitution, are routinely harassed, sidelined, and deprived of access to the media.

Recognition Question Looms Over Belarus Poll

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:23:56 +0000

Despite some signs of democratization, Belarus's parliamentary elections on September 28 look like they will mirror earlier flawed elections, with many opposition candidates denied registration and little opposition representation on election commissions.

Pushing Belarus Toward (Slight) Improvement

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:46:26 +0000

With Belarus preparing to hold parliamentary elections, both the United States and the European Union have given clear signals that their relations with Belarus could improve if President Alyaksandr Lukashenka chooses to conduct the polls in a more open and transparent way than previously. But is Lukashenka interested?

Has Ukraine's Orange Coalition Reached Point Of No Return?

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:01:36 +0000

The collapse of the coalition government led by former Orange Revolution allies President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko could be the first shot fired in what is expected to be a vicious struggle for the presidency in 2010.

Belarus's Privatization Plan Reveals Change In Thinking

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:47:16 +0000

Should Belarus's ambitious privatization plan come to fruition, the country's state-dominated economy could be in store for a breakthrough. But it seems that in the face of fiscal expediency, Minsk has no other choice than to allow wider privatization if it hopes to replenish state coffers.

Why Did Belarusian President Pardon His Toughest Opponent?

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:31:44 +0000

Why did Lukashenka decide to free imprisoned opposition figure Alyaksandr Kazulin now, after missing an excellent opportunity earlier this year, when he released several other political prisoners and seemed to be willing to enter into a significant dialogue with the West?

Is Ukraine Prepared To Maintain Its Tough Stand Against Russia?

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:52:31 +0000

As the world watches the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi, many eyes have turned to Ukraine -- a country which, like Georgia, has struggled to break free of Russia's post-Soviet embrace.

U.S. Lawyer Imprisoned For Three Years In Belarus

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:53:45 +0000

The Minsk City Court has sentenced U.S. citizen Emanuel Zeltser to three years in prison, finding him guilty of "attempted industrial espionage" and use of forged documents. The verdict comes against the backdrop of a Belarusian-U.S. diplomatic row and is apparently poised to exacerbate the mutual relations even more.

Investigation, Speculation Dwarf Leads In Belarus Blast Case

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:54:07 +0000

Belarus has already seen major reverberations from the explosion that injured dozens of concertgoers in Minsk last month. But the authorities' willingness to haul in opposition sympathizers and cast a massive dragnet could send shivers down the spines of government friends and foes alike.

Belarusian President Makes Faint Overtures To Opposition

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:28:02 +0000

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has surprised many by including opposition members on district election commissions ahead of the parliamentary elections. WAs it anything more than a routine propaganda exercise?

Belarus Blast Delivers Shock To The System

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:22:44 +0000

In the aftermath of a bomb blast at a concert that injured scores of people in the Belarusian capital, authorities were quick to call it an act of "hooliganism." But the official reaction suggests that the explosion and the damage it inflicted could go far beyond such a self-serving explanation.

The Limits Of The Vatican-Minsk Friendship

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:35:14 +0000

Belarusians are quipping that the Vatican's second-in-command was lured to Minsk only because both states are ruled autocratically and neither is bound by commitments to groups like the Council of Europe.