Belarus received increased international attention as the host of the Zapad military exercises in September 2017, raising questions about Moscow’s ambitions towards the country and Minsk’s own intentions and capabilities. This event will look at recent developments in Belarusian internal politics and foreign policy.
The event is co-organized by Chatham House, Minsk Dialogue Track-II Initiative, and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
PROGRAMME
10:00-10:15 Opening remarks: Wolfgang Sender, Country Director - Belarus, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
10:15-11:45 Session 1: Domestic politics
- The state of the economy
- What is the state of the opposition and civil society?
- Does the opposition have a strategy?
- Is there any cooperation between the state and civil society?
Speakers:
Andrey Kazakevich, Director, Institute of Political Studies "Palitychnaya Sfera"
Dzmitry Kruk, Senior Research Fellow, BEROC
Artyom Shraibman, Political Commentator, TUT.BY
Chair: Orysia Lutsevych, Manager, Ukraine Forum, Chatham House
11:45-12:00 Coffee break
12:00-13:30 Session 2: Foreign policy
- Relations with Russia, including security links
- Relations with the EU
- What does Minsk's foreign policy strategy look like and what are its implications for regional security?
Speakers:
Keir Giles, Associate Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
Dzianis Melyantsou, Senior Analyst, Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies; Programme Coordinator, Minsk Dialogue Track-II Initiative
Yauheni Preiherman, Head, Minsk Dialogue Track-II Initiative
Chair: Georgina Wright, Research Assistant and Coordinator, Europe Programme, Chatham House
