Hanna Liubakova
@hannaliubakova.bsky.social
Belarusian independent journalist in exile | Non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council | Telling Belarus as it is
Journalist Viachaslau Lazarau, who was forcibly taken out of #Belarus without a passport or release papers, has finally received his passport - sent to his mother's home in Viciebsk and then passed to him.
The regime throws people out without documents. Hard to call it mercy.
The regime throws people out without documents. Hard to call it mercy.
November 25, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Journalist Viachaslau Lazarau, who was forcibly taken out of #Belarus without a passport or release papers, has finally received his passport - sent to his mother's home in Viciebsk and then passed to him.
The regime throws people out without documents. Hard to call it mercy.
The regime throws people out without documents. Hard to call it mercy.
I'm perplexed by a comment from a Russian woman who opposes the war yet argues it's "better" to send murderers to the front instead of mobilized conscripts. She wants the war to end, but this logic shows how deeply warped and broken the moral landscape has become in Russia.
November 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I'm perplexed by a comment from a Russian woman who opposes the war yet argues it's "better" to send murderers to the front instead of mobilized conscripts. She wants the war to end, but this logic shows how deeply warped and broken the moral landscape has become in Russia.
#Ukraine cannot be pressured into giving up its sovereignty or its territories. That approach grants Putin permission to strike again. The future of the region - and the continent - is being decided right now, and I wish to see the urgency or the resolve this moment demands.
November 22, 2025 at 6:20 AM
#Ukraine cannot be pressured into giving up its sovereignty or its territories. That approach grants Putin permission to strike again. The future of the region - and the continent - is being decided right now, and I wish to see the urgency or the resolve this moment demands.
Got some unexpected "promotion" from pro-Kremlin propaganda outlets & think tanks over the past few days thanks to my @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social report. Credit where it's due though: they helpfully summarised my recommendations, shared the link to my publication & showcased the graphics. #Russia
November 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Got some unexpected "promotion" from pro-Kremlin propaganda outlets & think tanks over the past few days thanks to my @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social report. Credit where it's due though: they helpfully summarised my recommendations, shared the link to my publication & showcased the graphics. #Russia
#Belarus The final section of my @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social report has now been translated and published by the independent Belarusian outlet Salidarnasc. I'm deeply grateful to my Belarusian colleagues for making this work more accessible to those who may not read easily in English.
November 21, 2025 at 10:20 AM
#Belarus The final section of my @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social report has now been translated and published by the independent Belarusian outlet Salidarnasc. I'm deeply grateful to my Belarusian colleagues for making this work more accessible to those who may not read easily in English.
Catholic priests Henrykh Akalatovich and Andrzej Yukhnevich have been released from prison in #Belarus. It is such a relief - Father Henrykh's health worsened while detained. Repression against clergy must end, and the regime must uphold religious freedoms.
November 20, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Catholic priests Henrykh Akalatovich and Andrzej Yukhnevich have been released from prison in #Belarus. It is such a relief - Father Henrykh's health worsened while detained. Repression against clergy must end, and the regime must uphold religious freedoms.
The third part of my @AtlanticCouncil report is out, translated into Russian! It's about how #Belarus lost its foreign policy, and more details about China, Iran, Zimbabwe and the EU. The link is below:
gazetaby.com/post/kak-bel...
gazetaby.com/post/kak-bel...
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The third part of my @AtlanticCouncil report is out, translated into Russian! It's about how #Belarus lost its foreign policy, and more details about China, Iran, Zimbabwe and the EU. The link is below:
gazetaby.com/post/kak-bel...
gazetaby.com/post/kak-bel...
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?