Document #1209362
Freedom House (Author)
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Democratic Governance | 7.00 | 7.00 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 |
Electoral Process | 7.00 | 7.00 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 6.75 |
Civil Society | 6.50 | 6.50 | 6.25 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.25 | 6.50 | 6.50 | 6.50 | 6.25 |
Independent Media | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.50 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 |
Local Democratic Governance | 6.50 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 |
Judicial Framework and Independence | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
Corruption | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 |
Democracy Score | 6.68 | 6.71 | 6.57 | 6.50 | 6.57 | 6.68 | 6.71 | 6.71 | 6.71 | 6.64 |
NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. If consensus cannot be reached, Freedom House is responsible for the final ratings. The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s).
July 2015 marked the 25th anniversary of Belarus’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. After a brief period of democratic transition in the early 1990s, the country gradually developed into a consolidated authoritarian regime under President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. In October 2015, Lukashenka secured a fifth term in an election that observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) did not recognize as free and fair. However, unlike the December 2010 presidential election, the 2015 voting was not followed by violence or imprisonment of major opposition figures.
Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine had an important psychological impact on Belarusian authorities. The government is increasingly concerned by Russian actions in Ukraine and is trying to distance itself from its eastern neighbor. Belarus is also suffering from the effects of Russia’s economic downturn. In an attempt to improve relations with the West and offset the influence of an increasingly assertive Russia, the Belarusian administration released all political prisoners in August 2015.
The release of prisoners and decreased state persecution of the political opposition contributed to a modest improvement in the country’s political environment. However, the executive remained firmly in control of all branches of power, with very little public oversight of its activities. The conflict in Ukraine persuaded both the authorities and a significant part of the population that political changes could undermine stability in the country, and this was used as a justification to stifle dissent and to preserve the existing political regime.
In October 2015, following the prisoner release and peaceful election, the European Union (EU) suspended restrictive measures against hundreds of Belarusian officials and other individuals seen as linked to human rights violations. Similarly, the United States temporarily lifted sanctions against several major Belarusian companies. After hosting important negotiations on the resolution of the Ukraine crisis, which culminated in a February 2015 summit attended by the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine, Belarus had worked to intensify its contacts with Western Europe and the United States. It had also softened its anti-Western rhetoric, attempting to pursue a more balanced foreign policy and cautious economic reforms.
After the presidential election, most international observers praised the nonviolent treatment of political opponents, minor improvements in the election legislation, and opportunities for the opposition to campaign. However, nothing changed at the fundamental level. The authorities continued to abuse their monopoly on television during the campaign period; used administrative resources to increase the turnout of voters, particularly by coercing people to participate in early voting; and failed to conduct a transparent vote count, among other election irregularities.
The situation for civil society improved slightly in 2015, with more opportunities for advocacy campaigns, local fund-raising, and attempts by high-level officials to engage with civil society groups, especially on economic reforms. The release of all political prisoners in August also helped to open space for civil society activities. Separately, Belarusian authorities joined the Bologna Process on European standards for higher education, and began to encourage participation in pan-European research projects and networks, such as Horizon 2020.
However, civil society organizations still face significant challenges, including obstacles to registration as legal entities and the threat of criminal sanctions for operating without registration. Although new domestic fund-raising mechanisms are gaining popularity, the government maintains restrictions on funding for civil society organizations, particularly from foreign sources.
The authorities continued to suppress independent broadcast and print media in 2015, marginalizing the voices of those who disagree with the regime. Although state television has started to invite prominent opposition figures to prime-time talk shows more frequently, this has not changed the nature of public debate in Belarus. Foreign media outlets struggle to obtain official accreditation in the country. Internet-based media generally remain available to most users, but the government continued its policy of restricting access to some opposition websites at state-controlled institutions.
The authorities took a number of steps to address corruption in 2015, including adoption of a new anticorruption law, after a public consultation, and the implementation of a national program to combat crime and corruption. According to various enterprise surveys, Belarus is often regarded as one of the least corrupt countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, but implementation of anticorruption measures remains selective in practice and lacks transparency.
Score Changes:
As a result, Belarus’s Democracy Score improved from 6.71 to 6.64.
Outlook for 2016: The authoritarian nature of the political regime in Belarus will not change in 2016. The executive branch, with President Lukashenka at the top, will avoid implementation of significant reforms, though economic modernization is likely to continue without much fanfare. That would be in part a result of the gradual replacement of Soviet-minded conservatives with a new generation of officials, but also a response to major problems in Russia, the country’s main financial supporter. Economic and political pressures from an increasingly assertive Kremlin will lead to more attempts by Belarus to improve its relations with the West. The authorities can be expected to continue treating the political opposition and media without unnecessary brutality, while denying them the freedom necessary to change the political status quo.
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7.00 | 7.00 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7.00 | 7.00 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 6.75 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.50 | 6.50 | 6.25 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.25 | 6.50 | 6.50 | 6.50 | 6.25 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.50 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.50 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.25 | 6.25 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 |
Author: Yaraslau Kryvoi
Dr. Yaraslau Kryvoi is director of the Ostrogorski Centre, editor of Belarus Digest, and associate professor at the University of West London. Born in Belarus, he holds degrees from St. Petersburg State University, Nottingham University, Moscow State Law Academy, and Harvard Law School. He has published extensively on law and policy in Belarus, Russia, and other countries in the former Soviet Union. His personal website is http://kryvoi.net.
[1] David Marples and Uladzimir Padhol, “Lukashenka’s 2015 Election Strategy,” Belarus Digest, 17 August 2015, http://belarusdigest.com/story/lukashenkas-2015-election-strategy-23074
[2] Kateryna Bornukova, “2016 Will Be Tough, Reforms or No Reforms—Digest of Belarusian Economy,” Belarus Digest, 8 January 2016, http://belarusdigest.com/story/2016-will-be-tough-reforms-or-no-reforms-–-digest-belarusian-economy-24243
[3] “Лукашенко: реформы в Беларуси будут направлены на совершенствование существующего, а не его ломку” [Lukashenka: Reforms in Belarus will be directed to improvement of the existing, not on breaking it up], Belta, 20 October 2015, http://www.belta.by/president/view/lukashenko-reformy-v-belarusi-budut-napravleny-na-sovershenstvovanie-suschestvujuschego-a-ne-ego-lomku-167229-2015
[4] Ihar Tyshkevich, “Как в Беларуси подходят к реформам: действия, структуры, внешние партнёры” [How reforms are approached in Belarus: Actions, structure, external partners], Hvylya, 14 November 2015, http://hvylya.net/analytics/geopolitics/kak-v-belarusi-podhodyat-k-reformam-deystviya-strukturyi-vneshnie-partnyoryi.html
[5] Dzmitry Zayats, “Ручное управление экономикой довело страну до ручки” [Manual management of the economy resulted in a serious failure of the country], Naviny.by, 26 October 2015, http://naviny.by/rubrics/economic/2015/10/26/ic_articles_113_190130
[6] Aleś Alachnovič, “Belarus Finally Reforms Its Economy?” Belarus Digest, 1 October 2015, http://belarusdigest.com/story/belarus-finally-reforms-its-economy-23364
[7] Yehor Martynovych, “Дрозды №2: полный список чиновников, получивших участки общей стоимостью $10 млн” [Drozdy No. 2: Full list of officials who have received parts of the state property], Nasha Niva, 4 January 2015, http://nn.by/?c=ar&i=129566&lang=ru
[8] According to public opinion polls, in September 2015 only 15.5 percent thought that the main problem of Belarus was the lack of independence and democracy, compared with 21.5 percent in 2006 and 17.5 percent in 2010. See “Пресс-релиз по результатам национального опроса в сентябре 2015” [Press release on results of the national survey in September 2015], Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS), 2015, http://www.iiseps.org/?p=3739
[9] “Негативная динамика доверия институтам” [Negative dynamics of trust in institutions], IISEPS, 5 January 2014, http://www.iiseps.org/analitica/564/
[10] Alyaksandr Klaskouski, “Власть переводит белорусов на контракт выживания” [The authorities are switching Belarusians to the survival contract], Naviny.by, 22 January 2015, http://naviny.by/rubrics/politic/2015/01/22/ic_articles_112_188053/
[11] “Analytical Report on Human Rights, July–September 2015,” Lawtrend Center for Legal Transformation, 2015, http://www.lawtrend.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ANALYTICAL-REPORT-july-september.pdf
[12] Oleg Volchek, “Органы прокуратуры Беларуси нуждаются в серьезной и принципиальной реформе” [The prosectutor’s office needs serious and principled reform], Naviny.by, 19 October 2015, http://naviny.by/rubrics/opinion/2015/10/19/ic_articles_410_190071/
[13] “Постановление Совета Министров Республики Беларусь 12 августа 2014 г. № 783 ‘О служебной информации ограниченного распространения’” [Council of Ministers decree, 12 August 2014, No. 783 ‘On the service information of limited access’], Pravo.by, 12 August 2014, http://www.pravo.by/main.aspx/main.aspx?guid=3871&p0=C21400783&p1=1
[14] See for example the bill drafting plan for 2015, available at the House of Representatives website: http://house.gov.by/index.php/,7034,,,,0,,,0.html
[15] Ryhor Astapenia, “Belarus Will Start the New Year with a Wishful Budget,” Belarus Digest, 24 December 2014, http://belarusdigest.com/story/belarus-will-start-new-year-wishful-budget-20841
[16] “International Election Observation Mission, Republic of Belarus—Presidential Election, 11 October 2015: Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions,” Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), 12 October 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/191586?download=true
[17] Yaraslau Kryvoi, with Andrew Wilson, “From Sanctions to Summits: Belarus after the Ukraine Crisis,” European Council on Foreign Relations, 5 May 2015, http://belaruspolicy.com/en/content/sanctions-summits-belarus-after-ukraine-crisis
[18] “Republic of Belarus Presidential Election, 11 October 2015, OSCE/ODHIR Needs Assessment Mission Report,” OSCE, 28 July 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/174771?download=true
[19] “International Election Observation Mission, Republic of Belarus—Presidential Election, 11 October 2015: Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions,” OSCE, 12 October 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/191586?download=true
[20] “Preliminary Final Report No. 6,” Right to Choose 2015, 12 October 2015, http://pvby.org/pravavybarureportn6eng-2.pdf
[21] “Vote Counting and Election Assessment by Observers—Belarus Presidential Election Digest,” Belarus Digest, 27 October 2015, http://belarusdigest.com/story/vote-counting-and-election-assessment-observers-belarus-presidential-election-digest-23569
[22] “Elections of President of Republic of Belarus, October 11, 2015, Campaign ‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’ Analytical Report on Results of Observation,” Viasna Human Rights Center, 13 October 2015, http://spring96.org/en/news/80734
[23] “Republic of Belarus Presidential Election, 11 October 2015, OSCE/ODHIR Needs Assessment Mission Report,” OSCE, 28 July 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/174771?download=true
[24] “Monitoring: The Coverage of the 2015 Presidential Election in the Belarusian Media (Final Report),” Belarusian Association of Journalists, 27 October 2015, http://baj.by/en/analytics/monitoring-coverage-2015-presidential-election-belarusian-media-final-report
[25] “Republic of Belarus Presidential Election, 11 October 2015, OSCE/ODHIR Needs Assessment Mission Report,” OSCE, 28 July 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/174771?download=true
[26] Ibid.
[27] “Election 2015. Early Voting Turnout at 36% in Belarus,” Belta, 11 October 2015, http://eng.belta.by/society/view/election-2015-early-voting-turnout-at-36-in-belarus-86059-2015/
[28] Volha Charnysh, “Early Voting: The Secret to a Successful Authoritarian Election?” Belarus Digest, 9 October 2015, http://belarusdigest.com/story/early-voting-secret-successful-authoritarian-election-23450
[29] “Republic of Belarus Presidential Election, 11 October 2015, OSCE/ODHIR Needs Assessment Mission Report,” OSCE, 28 July 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/174771?download=true
[30] “Monitoring: The Coverage of the 2015 Presidential Election in the Belarusian Media (Final Report),” Belarusian Association of Journalists.
[31] “Concerted Position by Belarusian Human Rights Organisations on Priorities in Shaping the Strategy of International Partners’ Relations with Belarus,” Viasna Human Rights Center, 28 January 2016, https://spring96.org/en/news/82095
[32] Alesya Rudnik and Tatyana Chulitskaya, “Па-за палітыкай: магчымасці адвакатавання ў сучаснай Беларусі” [Beyond politics: Possibilities for advocacy in today’s Belarus], Nashe Mneniye, 27 August 2015, http://nmnby.eu/news/analytics/5863.html
[33] Pact, “Top 10 of Belarus Civil Society in 2015,” Pact, 2015, http://www.pactworld.org/news/top-10-belarus-civil-society-2015. According to the Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) developed by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the score for Belarus in 2015 was 5.6, a 0.1-point improvement over the previous year. See “Індэкс устойлівасці арганізацый грамадзянскай супольнасці Беларусі 2014” [Index of sustainability of civil society organizations in Belarus in 2014], Actngo.info, 2014, http://www.actngo.info/sites/default/files/files/report_belarus_csosi_2014.pdf
[34] “2015 Future Search,” Pact, 4–6 June 2015, http://belarusdigest.com/sites/default/files/pactfuturesearchreport_eng_...
[35] However, it should be pointed out that traditional forms of public benefit activity such as “subbotnik”—a day of volunteer work on Saturdays—are not always voluntary in practice. See Yaraslau Kryvoi, “Belarusians Forced to Work on Weekends,” Belarus Digest, 11 October 2011, http://belarusdigest.com/story/belarusians-forced-work-weekends-6117
[36] Syarhey Korolevich, “В 2014 году в Беларуси зарегистрировано 86 новых общественных объединений” [In 2014, 86 new civil associations were registered in Belarus], Belapan, 9 February 2015, https://belapan.com/archive/2015/02/09/757861/
[37] “Report 2014/2015: The State of the World’s Human Rights,” Amnesty International, 2015, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/pol10/0001/2015/en/
[38] “Political Prisoner Yury Rubtsou Sentenced to Two Years in Penal Colony,” Viasna Human Rights Center, 28 May 2015, https://spring96.org/en/news/77531; “Mikalai Dzyadok to spend one more year in prison,” Euroradio, 27 February 2015, http://euroradio.fm/en/mikalai-dzyadok-spend-one-more-year-prison
[39] Analytical Report on Human Rights, July–September 2015,” Lawtrend Center for Legal Transformation, 2015, http://www.lawtrend.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ANALYTICAL-REPORT-july-september.pdf
[40] See the platforms’ websites at http://www.talaka.by/projects and http://maesens.by/
[41] “Belarus Civil Society Organisations in Cross-Sectoral Dialogue: Summary of Legal Environment Research and Expert Survey,” Belarus Digest, 2014, http://belarusdigest.com/sites/default/files/mapping_belarus_0.pdf
[42] Anastasiya Matchanka, “Substitution of Civil Society in Belarus: Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organizations,” Journal of Belarusian Studies, Issue 67, 2014, http://belarusjournal.com/article/substitution-civil-society-belarus-government-organised-non-governmental-organisations-237
[43] Volha Charnysh, “Political Opposition in Belarus: Movements Instead of Parties,” Belarus Digest, 13 May 2015, http://belarusdigest.com/story/political-opposition-belarus-movements-instead-parties-22698
[44] “BCD Was Denied a Possibility to Hold the Registration Congress Indoors,” Belarusian Christian Democracy, 21 May 2015, http://bchd.info/index.php?newsid=9597
[45] “Easier Terms for Setting Up Trade Unions in Belarus,” Belta, 2 June 2015, http://eng.belta.by/president/view/easier-terms-for-setting-up-trade-unions-in-belarus-12949-2015
[46] “Homieĺ Priests Threatened with Criminal Charges under Article 193.1,” Viasna Human Rights Center, 26 June 2015, https://spring96.org/en/news/78046
[47] Svetlana Belous, “Коллективная молитва в стенах ‘Чижовка-Арены.’ Репортаж с собрания евангелистов” [Collective prayer in the ‘Chizhovka-Arena.’ Reporting from the assembly of evangelicals], TUT.by, 31 May 2015, http://news.tut.by/society/449984.html
[48] “Conference Agenda—Economy of Belarus: At a Tipping Point,” Kastryčnicki Ekanamičny Forum, 3–4 November 2015, http://eng.kef.research.by/conference/program/
[49] “Вялікі трэнд” [The big trend], Kultura, 29 March 2015, http://www.kimpress.by/index.phtml?page=2&id=11313&DomainName=cult
[50] “Belarus’ Accession to Bologna Process Approved by European Education Ministers,” Belta, 14 May 2015, http://eng.belta.by/society/view/belarus-accession-to-bologna-process-approved-by-european-education-ministers-12502-2015
[51] “Republic of Belarus Presidential Election, 11 October 2015, OSCE/ODHIR Needs Assessment Mission Report,” OSCE, 28 July 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/174771?download=true
[52] Analytical Report on Human Rights, July–September 2015,” Lawtrend Center for Legal Transformation, 2015, http://www.lawtrend.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ANALYTICAL-REPORT-july-september.pdf
[53] “Belarus 2014 Human Rights Report,” U.S. Department of State, 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236714.pdf
[54] “Monitoring: The Coverage of the 2015 Presidential Election in the Belarusian Media (Final Report),” Belarusian Association of Journalists, 27 October 2015, http://baj.by/en/analytics/monitoring-coverage-2015-presidential-election-belarusian-media-final-report
[55] “Поправки к закону о СМИ: суть и предполагаемые последствия” [Amendments to the law on the mass media: Essence and expected consequences], Lawtrend Center for Legal Transformation, 24 December 2014, http://www.lawtrend.org/information-access/popraki-k-zakonu-o-smi-sut-i-posledstviya
[56] “Ministry of Information to Be Able to Restrict Access to Websites in 3 Days,” Euroradio, 25 February 2015, http://euroradio.fm/en/ministry-information-be-able-restrict-access-websites-3-days
[57] “Мининформ блокирует KYKY.org. Что мы будем делать и где нас можно читать” [Mininform blocks KYKY.org. What we will be doing and where you can read us], KYKY.org, 18 June 2015, http://kyky.io/life/ministerstvo-informatsii-zablokirovalo-kyky-org-chto-eto-znachit-chto-my-budem-delat-i-gde-nas-chitat
[58] Tatiana Korovenkova, “В белорусской медиасфере опять подзакрутили гайки” [In Belarusian mediasphere the screws have been tightened again], Naviny.by, 1 February 2016, http://naviny.by/rubrics/society/2016/2/1/ic_articles_116_190871/print/
[59] Barys Haretski, “Итоги 2015 года. Штрафы фрилансерам,” [2015 results. Fines for freelancers], Belarusian Association of Journalists, 1 December 2015, http://baj.by/ru/analytics/itogi-2015-goda-shtrafy-frilanseram
[60] Artsiom Martynovich, “Two Letters Get Newspaper Warned, Four Letters Can Get It Suspended,” Euroradio, 6 March 2015, http://euroradio.by/en/two-letters-get-newspaper-warned-four-letters-can-get-it-suspended
[61] Ina Studzinskaya, “Газету Слонімскую’ падазраюць у зьнявазе гонару і годнасьці прэзыдэнта” [‘Hazeta Slonimskaya’ is suspected of defamation of the president], Radyo Svaboda (RFE/RL), 5 August 2015, http://www.svaboda.org/content/article/27172374.html
[62] “International Election Observation Mission, Republic of Belarus—Presidential Election, 11 October 2015: Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions,” OSCE, 12 October 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/belarus/191586?download=true
[63] “Местная политика как форма региональной общественной жизни” [Regional politics as a form of regional societal life], Silnye Novosti, 14 April 2014, http://odsgomel.org/rus/article/society/50848/
[64] Oleg Mazol, “Местное самоуправление в Республике Беларусь” [Regional self-governance in the Republic of Belarus], Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC), 2015, http://belaruspolicy.com/ru/content/mestnoe-samoupravlenie-v-respublike-belarus
[65] Miroslav Kobasa, “Местное самоуправление в Беларуси—как превратить миф в реальность” [Regional self-governance in Belarus—How to turn a myth into reality], in “Cборник аналитических документов в области публичного администрирования” [Collection of analytical instruments in the field of public administration], School of Young Managers in Public Administration (Sympa), 2012, http://www.sympa-by.eu/sites/default/files/library/booklet_all_a5_small_1.pdf
[66] Andrey Kazakevich and Vadzim Smok, “Алігархія ці вертыкаль? Рэгіянальныя эліты ў Беларусі: эвалюцыя ў 1999–2014 гадах на прыкладзе абласных Саветаў” [Oligarchy or vertical? Regional elites in Belarus: Evolution in 1999–2014, the case of the local councils], Institute of Political Studies “Political Sphere,” 2014, http://palityka.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Reg_elites_Political_Sphere-2014.pdf
[67] Tatsyana Lazowskaya, “Зрабілі першы крок” [They made the first step], Zvyazda.by, 11 March 2015, http://zviazda.by/2015/03/74866.html
[68] Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), “Summary of the Evaluation Report on Belarus,” Council of Europe, 3 February 2014, https://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/greco/evaluations/round2/GrecoEval1-2(2013)1_Summary_Belarus_EN.pdf
[69] Katerina Borisevich, “Президент уволил четырех судей экономического суда” [President dismissed four judges of the economic court], Komsomolskaya Pravda (Belarus), 8 July 2015, http://www.kp.by/daily/26403/3279381/
[70] “Суд над актывістамі, якія мелі намер паехаць у Менск на ‘шэсьце нацыянальнага сьцяга’ перанесены” [Court proceedings over activists who were planning to come to Minsk for the ‘national flag rally’], Viasna Human Rights Center, 21 October 2015, https://spring96.org/be/news/80898
[71] “Эксперт ООН в области прав человека предупредил об ухудшении положения политических заключенных в Беларуси в преддверии выборов” [UN expert in charge of human rights alarmed that conditions of political prisoners in Belarus have worsened in the run-up to the elections], Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 11 June 2015, http://www.ohchr.org/RU/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16067&LangID=R
[72] “Analytical Report on Human Rights, July–September 2015,” Lawtrend Center for Legal Transformation, 2015, http://www.lawtrend.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ANALYTICAL-REPORT-july-september.pdf
[73] “Статистические данные о деятельности судов за 1-е полугодие 2015 года” [Statistical data about activities of courts in the 1st half of 2015], Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus, http://court.by/justice/press_office/d89fcdae29ca3d1c.html
[74] “Analytical Report on Human Rights, July–September 2015,” Lawtrend Center for Legal Transformation, 2015, http://www.lawtrend.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ANALYTICAL-REPORT-july-september.pdf
[75] Adarya Gushtyn, “В тюрьмах условия стали лучше. Теперь там почти как в армии” [Conditions in prisons have improved. Now it is almost like in the army], Naviny.by, 4 June 2015, http://naviny.by/rubrics/society/2015/06/04/ic_articles_116_189042/
[76] “Павел Сапелка: МУС адвольна, без дастатковага абгрунтавання скарачае і без таго абмежаваныя правы зняволеных” [Pavel Sapelka: Ministry of Internal Affairs arbitrarily, without justification, limits the already limited rights of the imprisoned], Viasna Human Rights Center, 14 August 2015, http://spring96.org/be/news/79236
[77] Artur Smirnov, “Беларусь: Минюст за пенитенциарную систему не ручается” [Belarus: Ministry of Justice does not vouch for the penitentiary system], Deutsche Welle, 27 February 2015, http://tinyurl.com/pgyup44
[78] See, for example, “Rule of Law Index 2015,” World Justice Project, 2015, http://worldjusticeproject.org/sites/default/files/roli_2015_0.pdf; “Enterprise Surveys: Corruption,” World Bank Group, 2012–2013, http://www.enterprisesurveys.org/data/exploretopics/corruption; “Corruption Perceptions Index 2015,” Transparency International, 2015, https://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/results
[79] “Council of Europe’s Anti-Corruption Group Report on Belarus; Implementation Disappointing, It Says,” FTSE Global Markets, 27 May 2015, http://www.ftseglobalmarkets.com/news/council-of-europes-anti-corruption-group-report-on-belarus-implementation-disappointing-it-says.html#sthash.rM7YuJ9u.dpuf
[80] “Інфаграфіка ад часопісу ‘Ідэя’: Што беларускі бізнес думае пра карупцыю” [Infographics from the ‘Idea’ journal: What does Belarusian business think of corruption], IPM Research Center, 30 July 2015, http://www.research.by/press-centr/news/1510/
[81] Siarhei Bohdan, “Belarusian Government: Strong on the Opposition, Weak on the Shadow Economy,” Belarus Digest, 10 November 2015, http://belarusdigest.com/story/belarusian-government-strong-opposition-weak-shadow-economy-23692
[82] Andrey Skriba and Darya Uryutina, “Состояние коррупции в Беларуси в восприятии малого и среднего бизнеса” [The state of corruption in Belarus as perceived by small and medium business], IPM Research Center, 2015, http://www.research.by/webroot/delivery/files/english/pdp/pdp2015r02.pdf
[83] Ibid.
[84] Inna Severin, “В Гродно суд слушает дело о коррупции в ‘Беллегпроме’: взятки—от 36 тысяч до миллиона евро” [In Hrodna the court is considering a case dealing with corruption in Bellegprom: Bribes from 36 thousand to one million euros], TUT.by, 2 November 2015, http://news.tut.by/society/471096.html
[85] “Закон Республики Беларусь о борьбе с коррупцией 15 июля 2015 № 305-З” [Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Combating Corruption” No. 305-Z, adopted on 15 July 2015], Pravo.by, 23 July 2015, http://www.pravo.by/main.aspx?guid=12551&p0=H11500305&p1=1
[86] “Belarus President Signs Anti-Corruption Law,” Belta, 20 July 2015, http://eng.belta.by/president/view/belarus-president-signs-anti-corruption-law-83645-2015
[87] “Генпрокурор: Публиковать декларации о доходах чиновников—не совсем этично” [Prosecutor General: It is not really ethical to publish income declarations of officials], TUT.by, 9 April 2015, http://finance.tut.by/news443368.html
[88] “Генеральной прокуратурой подведены итоги общественного обсуждения проекта Закона Республики Беларусь ‘О борьбе с коррупцией’” [Prosecutor general has summed up the social discussions of the draft bill of the Republic of Belarus ‘On Combatting Corruption’], Prosecutor General’s Office, 18 December 2014, http://www.prokuratura.gov.by/main.aspx?guid=22047
[89] “В Генеральной прокуратуре состоялось оперативное совещание при Генеральном прокуроре Республики Беларусь по вопросам борьбы с коррупцией” [An operational meeting with the prosecutor general of the Republic of Belarus regarding combating corruption took place in the Prosecutor General’s Office], Prosecutor General’s Office, 10 June 2015, http://www.prokuratura.gov.by/?guid=30062
[90] Vyacheslav Budkevich, “В 2014 году в поле зрения борцов с коррупцией оказались восемь лиц из кадрового реестра президента” [In 2014 anticorruption bodies focused on eight people from the staff list of the president], TUT.by, 29 March 2015, http://news.tut.by/society/441740.html
[91] Darya Oryol, “Число коррупционных преступлений в Минске снизилось почти на 20%” [The number of corruption crimes has dropped by nearly 20 percent], TUT.by, 2 November 2015, http://news.tut.by/society/471038.html
[92] “Программа по борьбе с преступностью и коррупцией на 2013–2015” [Program on combating crime and corruption for 2013–2015], Ministry of Internal Affairs, 15 March 2013, http://mvd.gov.by/main.aspx?guid=173163
Nations in Transit 2016 - Albania (Periodical Report, English)