Belarusian Dissidents Abroad: A Target of Threats and Intimidation

Dissidents fleeing Alexander Lukashenko's oppressive government recount experiences of intimidation and persistent threats even while living in exile. Despite having left Belarus to escape political repression, many still endure harassment from state agents, creating a climate of fear for both them and their families.

Dissidents who have escaped the autocratic rule of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus shared alarming accounts of ongoing threats toward them and their family members back in their homeland. Following the intense crackdown on protests in 2020 which erupted in response to what many deemed a fraudulent election, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have sought refuge outside their country. Among them is journalist Tatsiana Ashurkevich, 26, who discovered her door in Minsk had been sealed shut with construction foam earlier this year. Confronting a social media follower who had been sending her suspicious messages, Ashurkevich was met with coercive requests to inform on fellow Belarusians involved in the conflict in Ukraine, leaving her to block him for her own safety.

In the years since the protests, tens of thousands have faced political arrests domestically, as the regime has escalated its efforts against dissidents abroad. Many activists have experienced ominous messages or phone calls, sometimes disguised as friendly, but carrying a veiled threat. Notably, Anna Krasulina, a press secretary for exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, frequently gets such calls, leading her to preemptively set her phone to flight mode. Both Krasulina and Ashurkevich have been tried in absentia and sentenced to long prison terms for their activism.

The Belarusian government, through a 2022 decree, has expanded its legal reach to pursue exiled critics aggressively, with over 200 cases opened against opposition figures. Many now refrain from participating in overseas protests for fear of the repercussions against their families in Belarus. Reports indicate that some dissidents, like Artem Lebedko, have been imprisoned merely due to familial ties with opposition figures.

Journalist Hanna Liubakova believes this campaign is a strategic attempt to sever connections between exiled Belarusians and those still living within the regime’s grasp, asserting that even knowing the reality, many may hesitate to touch base with those labeled ‘terrorists’ by the government. The Belarusian authorities’ tactics echo those of the KGB, utilizing modern technology to exert intimidation over their critics abroad.

Despite international condemnation, the safety of Belarusian dissidents remains precarious, particularly in neighboring Russia, where many have been extradited on dubious "extremist" charges. Activists like Andrei Strizhak describe this situation as a "war of attrition," with the constant pressure from the regime exhausting many who simply wish for some respite in their lives. Those affected strive for resilience amid an environment designed to instill fear and hopelessness.