Belarus

Belarusian play starring Olympic basketball player sheds light on life under a repressive regime

Arts, Culture & Media

The Belarus Free Theatre has been banned by its country’s government, so the company is making plays in exile. The troupe’s newest production that opened this week in New York City tells the story of an Olympic basketball star from Belarus who becomes a dissident and comes out as gay. 

The border between Belarus and Latvia is about 100 miles long and is partially separated by a fence monitored by border officers.

A migrant crisis at the Latvia-Belarus border

Migration
A portrait of the owner of private military company Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin lays at an informal memorial next to the former 'PMC Wagner Centre' in St. Petersburg, Russia, Aug. 24, 2023.

Reported death of Wagner Group leader ‘strengthens Putin’s hold on power,’ analyst says

Conflict
The hydroponic tomato plants at Ráječek Farm rely on manufactured fertilizer to grow.

War in Ukraine sparks fertilizer crisis that may impact the future of global food production

Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko talk during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022.

Putin reinforces military, security bonds with Belarus at Minsk meeting

Ukraine
Many of the Jewish graves in Kyrgyzstan are adorned with Stars of David.

The Jewish graves in Kyrgyzstan are fading. But a small Jewish community continues to thrive. 

History

An estimated 40,000 Jews fled fighting in the western part of the Soviet Union during World War II and sought refuge in Central Asia. Today, only about 1,500 Jews still live in Kyrgyzstan, but the small community continues to thrive.

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a damaged city center after Russian air raid in Chernigiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 3, 2022. 

Russia’s invasion in Ukraine ‘is far from done,’ retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman says

Ukraine

Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who worked in the White House as the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, joined The World’s host Carol Hills to discuss the current outlook and specific military strategies used by both Ukraine and Russia.

A Belarusian national flag flutters over a street in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. 

‘The Kremlin really controls the armed forces of Belarus,’ analyst says

Conflict

Katia Glod, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, joined The World’s host Marco Werman to talk about Belarus’ role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Smoke rise from an air defense base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022.

Russia attacks Ukraine; peace in Europe ‘shattered’

Ukraine

Russia has launched an invasion into eastern Ukraine, prompting condemnation from the US and Western nations. Meanwhile, Ukrainian civilians flee to safety amid the ongoing assaults.

Nicolai khalezin and Natalia Kaliada founded Belarus Free Theater.

Belarus theater company flees amid opposition crackdown 

Belarus Free Theater has staged provocative plays highlighting political corruption and the effects of authoritarianism for 16 years. Now, all its members are leaving Belarus, saying it’s no longer safe for them.