Belarus

On 29 May 2020, Sergei Tikhanovsky, a popular Belarusian blogger and outspoken critic of President Alexander Lukashenko, was arrested in Hrodna, Belarus. His arrest was seen as a politically motivated attempt to prevent him from running in the 2020 presidential election. Tikhanovsky’s wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, later ran in his place and became the main opposition candidate.

The 2020 Belarusian presidential election was held on 9 August 2020. Incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, sought his sixth term in office. The election was widely criticized for alleged irregularities and electoral fraud. Opposition candidates, including main rival Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, were suppressed and many protesters demanding fair elections were detained.

On 16 August 2020, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Minsk and other cities in Belarus to protest against the alleged electoral fraud in the presidential election. The protest, named the 'March for Freedom', was one of the largest in Belarus’s history. Demonstrators demanded the resignation of Alexander Lukashenko and new elections. The government responded with police crackdowns and violence against protesters.

On 30 August 2020, thousands of women marched in the Belarusian capital Minsk to protest against police brutality and the detention of over 100 women who had previously been detained for their participation in opposition protests. The march was a powerful symbol of resistance against state repression. Women protesters wore white and carried flowers as a sign of peaceful resistance.

On 6 September 2020, Maria Kolesnikova, a prominent opposition leader in Belarus, was kidnapped by masked men in Minsk. She was driven to the Ukrainian border where she resisted forced deportation by tearing up her passport. She was subsequently arrested and brought back to Minsk, where she faced charges. Her abduction and bravery became symbols of the resistance against Lukashenko's regime and inspired further protests.

On 23 September 2020, Alexander Lukashenko was secretly inaugurated as President of Belarus for a sixth term. The ceremony was unannounced to the public and took place in an atmosphere of secrecy amidst ongoing protests. The opposition and several international governments rejected the legitimacy of his inauguration, claiming it further demonstrated the fraudulent nature of the August elections.

On 22 November 2020, thousands of Belarusians took to the streets to protest against the government's plans for further integration with Russia, fearing loss of sovereignty. Demonstrators chanted slogans demanding independence and rejection of any unification with Russia. The protest was part of the ongoing movement against Lukashenko’s regime and his policies favoring stronger ties with Moscow.

On 23 May 2021, Ryanair flight 4978, travelling from Greece to Lithuania, was forced to land in Minsk under the pretense of a bomb threat. Belarusian authorities arrested passenger Roman Protasevich, a dissident journalist, sparking international outrage and condemnation. The incident was widely seen as a state-sanctioned hijacking and resulted in increased sanctions on Belarus from the EU and US.

On 3 June 2021, following the forced landing of Ryanair flight 4978 and the arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich, the United States and European Union imposed new sanctions on Belarus. These sanctions targeted key sectors of the Belarusian economy and individuals within the government, aiming to pressure Lukashenko's regime to halt its repression of political opponents and release detained activists.

On 17 December 2021, Alexander Lukashenko announced plans for a constitutional referendum that was expected to deepen the president’s grip on power. The proposed changes aimed to limit presidential terms to two, but not retroactively, thus allowing Lukashenko to potentially remain in power until 2035. The announcement was criticized by opposition leaders and seen as another move to cement his rule.