Economist Podcasts From out of thin air: Belarus dissidents' fates
May 26, 2021
Join Arkady Ostrovsky, The Economist's expert on Russia and Belarusian politics, as he unpacks the alarming detention of dissident journalist Roman Protasevich. He discusses the international backlash against Belarus's authoritarian regime and its implications for democracy. Meanwhile, Olivia Ackland reports on the chaos following the Mount Nyiragongo eruption in Goma, where residents face ongoing threats from seismic activity. Together, they highlight pressing humanitarian crises and the efforts needed to aid those affected.
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Belarus Flight Diversion
- Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega were arrested after their flight was diverted to Minsk.
- Ms. Sapega appeared in a video seemingly confessing to publishing information about Belarusian officials.
Transnational Repression
- Belarus's actions reflect a worrying trend of transnational repression by authoritarian regimes.
- This trend threatens not only dissidents but also the countries where these regimes operate with impunity.
Russia and Belarus
- Russia's relationship with Belarus is ambivalent, similar to China's relationship with North Korea.
- Both regimes view Western democracy as a threat but distrust each other, using situations like this to increase dependency.