WASHINGTON - The turnout at the Washington exhibition of Belarusian artists “Art against Dictatorship” was unexpectedly high. The German Marshall Fund was initially planning a small round-table discussion on a little-known European country. Instead, what happened in Washington on February 12 looked more like an academic conference.

Euronews analyzed the most recent developments in Belarus-EU relations. The video report concluded that the main reason for what Belarusian authorities turned to the West is because Minsk is short of cash. There are signs Belarus is opening up. But the opposition advises caution, suggesting President Lukashenko just needs Europe to help Belarus weather the global economic storm. Watch the video.

WASHINGTON – David Marples has written on the most recent developments in EU-Belarus relations in the Jamestown Foundation’s Eurasia Daily Monitor.

  The German Marshall Fund of the United States hosts a round table on Belarus on Thursday, February 12 at 3:30 pm. The speakers include Irina Krasovskaya of We Remember initiative and Pavel Marozau of the Third Way of Belarus. The discussion will be moderated by Pavol Demes, director of the German Marshall Fund Bratislava office. The art exhibition of Belarusian artists and reception will follow the round table. RSVP is requested by Tuesday, February 10.

Беларус Мікалай Судзілоўскі назаўжды застанецца ў гісторыі як Прэзідэнт Сенату Гавайскіх астравоў і змагар... за незалежнасьць Гаваяў ад Злучаных Штатаў. Рэвалюцыянер-раманцік Мікалай Судзілоўскі прысьвяціў жыцьцё барацьбе за свабоду там, дзе яе не хапала. Надзвычай цікавая постаць ураджэнца Магілёва і выпускніка юрыдычнага факультэта Пецярбургскага ўніверсітэту ў матэрыяле Кастуся Лашкевіча з TUT.BY. Як трапна заўважыў у кнізе “Імёны свабоды” Уладзімір Арлоў, мала хто здагадваецца аб тым, што зусім не Аляксандр Лукашэнка стаў першым беларусам-прэзідэнтам краіны. Магілёўца Мікалая Судзілоўскага Бог надзяліў процьмай талентаў. Ён ведаў дзесяць моў і ва ўсім, чым займаўся — палітыка, медыцына, геаграфія, хімія, этнаграфія, энтамалогія, біялогія — пакінуў па сабе прыкметны след. Нездарма быў празваны “першым і апошнім энцыклапедыстам XХ стагоддзя”.

 The Third Way of Belarus, the Belarusian Museum in New York and other organizations with the generous support of the German Marshall Fund of the United States are presenting "Art Against Dictatorship". This traveling exhibition addresses the integral part that the alternative arts scene plays in preserving and enhancing Belarusian culture, particularly in the face of political pressure, that marginalize their mainstream presence.

The volunteer fish wardens of Belarus Dubrovskoe Lake inspect an ice fishermans catch

A recent New York Times article describes atrocities committed by Kadyrov regime in Chechnya. According to a former an exile Chechen, he and his family were able to flee to the European Union through Belarus with a $20 bribe:

Radio Liberty Free Europe commented on Belarus sending a state TV crew to broadcast Barack Obama’s inauguration in Washington.

 WASHINGTON (AFP) — The International Monetary Fund gave final approval Monday to an emergency loan of 2.46 billion dollars to help Belarus cope with the global financial crisis.