Belarus

The Belarusian Coaches Who Tried To Send An Olympic Sprinter Home Are Dismissed

12:37pm August 06, 2021

by Scott Neuman

The two coaches had their credentials revoked by the International Olympic Committee four days after they ordered sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya back home for publicly criticizing them.

Belarusian athlete Kristina Timanovskaya received a humanitarian visa from Poland after her country's officials tried to force her to take an early flight home from the Tokyo Olympics. Here she boards a flight Wednesday to Austria at Japan's Narita intern

Belarus Olympian Kristina Timanovskaya Arrives In Poland, Which Offered Her Asylum

3:46pm August 04, 2021

by Bill Chappell

She had been competing at the Tokyo Olympics. Timanovskaya is reuniting with her husband — who has also obtained a humanitarian visa.

Belarus athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya waves as she boards a Vienna-bound flight at Narita International Airport outside Tokyo on August 4, 2021.

Belarusian Athlete's Defection Is No Surprise To Human Rights Experts

12:55pm August 04, 2021

by Tori Dominguez

An expert says threats against Belarusian athletes aren't uncommon. Olympian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight home to Belarus after officials abruptly took her to the airport.

People with old Belarusian national flags shout during an opposition rally in August in Minsk, Belarus.

World News

5 Views From Belarus On The Country's Political Crisis

7:36am June 15, 2021

by Lucian Kim

Nearly a year after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown, "None of us doubt that we will prevail," an activist tells NPR. Others sound worried. "Every day is a little scarier," says one.

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President Biden touches a piece of steel from the World Trade Center at a memorial to the 9/11 attacks Monday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. NATO allies joined in a collective defense with the U.S. after the terror attacks.

Biden Says Russia's Putin Is A 'Worthy Adversary' Whether Or Not He Trusts Him

6:25pm June 14, 2021

by Ayesha Rascoe

President Biden reassured his NATO allies that the U.S. has their backs, and said he was gratified that the alliance will now also focus on challenges from China, climate change and cyberattacks.

A Ryanair jet that carried opposition figure Roman Protasevich was diverted to Minsk, Belarus, after a bomb threat. Protasevich, who ran a channel on a messaging app used to organize demonstrations against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, was

The EU Bans Belarus Airlines And Reroutes Flights Around Its Airspace

9:25am June 04, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

The move, affecting about 400 flights per day, is a reaction to the shocking arrest of a journalist last month after Belarusian officials forced his plane Greece-to-Lithuania flight to land in Minsk.

Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko has drawn attention from European leaders and Russia's President Vladimir Putin after his government arrested a journalist flying over the country on a commercial plane.

What Russia Stands To Gain By Backing Belarus

6:14pm May 26, 2021

After some European countries blocked access to Belarusian airlines after officials arrested an opposition journalist on a commercial flight, NPR asks an expert about Putin's support for Belarus.

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Belarus police detain journalist Roman Protasevich center, in Minsk, Belarus March 26, 2017. Protasevich was arrested after an airliner in which he was riding was diverted to Belarus.

World News

3 Reasons Why The Arrest Of A Journalist By Belarus Is Troubling

8:39am May 25, 2021

The arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich, who was seized from a flight that was forced down by Belarusian authorities, is being called an act of state terrorism and air piracy.

Protesters hold images of Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus opposition activist Roman Protasevich and Protasevich's partner Sofia Sapega during a demonstration of Belarusians living in Poland and Poles supporting them in front of European Co

EU Asks All EU-Based Airlines To Avoid Belarusian Airspace After Forced Landing

6:59pm May 24, 2021

by Laurel Wamsley

The move comes a day after Belarus ordered a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing in Minsk due to reports of a bomb aboard, in a ruse to apprehend an opposition activist.

A Ryanair Boeing is parked at Minsk International Airport on Sunday. Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich was detained at Minsk airport after his Lithuania-bound flight made an emergency landing.

World News

A Ryanair Flight Carrying An Opposition Journalist Is Forced To Land In Belarus

7:17pm May 23, 2021

by Kat Lonsdorf

The passenger flight carrying Roman Protasevich, the former editor of an opposition social media channel, made an emergency landing after reports of a bomb on board. No explosives were found.