The Silent Shadow: Belarus Dissidents Face Threats Abroad

Dissidents from Belarus, having fled the oppressive regime of Alexander Lukashenko, are being actively pursued and threatened while living abroad. Many face intimidation tactics aimed at silencing their opposition and endangering relatives who remain in Belarus, with authorities exploiting technology to maintain control and instill fear.

In the aftermath of Alexander Lukashenko's controversial presidency, which began in 1994 and faced mass protests in 2020 over alleged electoral fraud, many Belarusians have left the country in search of safety. However, those who seek refuge abroad, including prominent journalists and political activists, are not free from the long arm of the regime. The threats they encounter encapsulate the ongoing struggle for free expression and safety outside Belarus.

Tatsiana Ashurkevich, a 26-year-old journalist, discovered that her apartment door in Minsk had been sealed with construction foam, a clear message from the regime. While in exile, she encountered what she believed to be a covert supporter or informant, who requested sensitive information about fellow Belarusians fighting in Ukraine. Her decision to block this individual was emblematic of the isolation and danger faced by those who dare to stand against Lukashenko.

The international community, including human rights organizations like Viasna, has reported that thousands of political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus, while those exiled, like press secretary Anna Krasulina, continually contend with harassment through phone threats and aggressive surveillance. The Belarusian government has now enabled trial procedures allowing them to pursue those abroad, exacerbating an atmosphere of fear.

For many, involvement in protests or public demonstrations has diminished significantly due to the risks posed to their families back home. The chilling effect of potential state retribution plays heavily on the minds of activists. Even those who remain connected to the opposition fear they could be blacklisted as extremists, based on their associations.

Authorities have actively exploited family bonds in their campaigns to control dissent. Accounts of home raids and visits from law enforcement have instilled terror among exiles, who find themselves powerless to protect their loved ones. This has led to the strategic disconnection between activists abroad and their supporters in Belarus—a tactic designed to isolate those opposing the regime.

Hanna Liubakova, a journalist sentenced in absentia, articulates the psychological warfare employed by the regime, aimed at fostering insecurity even beyond Belarusian borders. Exile is thus fraught with the burden of vulnerability, as dissidents grapple with threats that persist beyond their physical departure from home—these are echoes of a regime unwilling to relinquish its grip, no matter the distance.

The situation for dissidents in Russia has been particularly precarious, with reports of extraditions to Belarus resulting in dire consequences. This provocative interplay is likened to the oppressive tactics of the KGB, a historical touchstone for Belarus’ ongoing political oppression.

Andrei Strizhak, a representative of the Belarusian activist community, states that the government's intensifying focus on dissidents reflects a drawn-out “war of attrition," continuing to sap the energy of those raising their voices against Lukashenko's stranglehold on power. With every passing year, maintaining resilience becomes an increasingly arduous task for exiles who are determined to advocate for change, yet constantly reminded of the risks that come with defiance.