Developments in Belarus
1. Continued repression in academia
In September, lawyer Miraslau Bandarenka, 28, was convicted of “calling for actions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus”. He has been added to the KGB’s list of “terrorists”. The exact sentence is not yet known, but he could face up to six years in prison. Miraslau Bandarenka graduated from the Faculty of Law at Belarusian State University. In early 2026, he defended his dissertation on “The Legal Framework for Investment in Human Capital”.
The large-scale persecution of students at the European Humanities University has attracted the attention of Amnesty International, whose Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Marie Struthers, issued a statement highlighting the cross-border nature of the repression. She expressed concern that “the expanding scope of these measures raises concerns that the authorities may seek to pursue further action, including through a demonstrative ‘anti-extremism’ trial involving students, graduates, staff, and their relatives”.
2. New rules allowing searches of personal belongings in schools
New rules allowing searches of students’ personal belongings took effect on September 1, 2026. Employees of the Department of Security were granted the authority to conduct random searches of the hand luggage of anyone they deem necessary to check, including minors. Parents are not required to be present when their children are searched. Reports indicate that searches may apply to anyone entering an educational institution, including parents, other visitors, and school staff. The new rules sparked widespread discontent on social media. A TikTok video explaining the rules, which came into effect on September 1, received more than 5,500 comments. One comment — “Are we going to school or to prison?” — received more than 36,000 likes.
3. Decree signed to establish the Academy of Intelligent Technologies
On September 10, 2026, a decree establishing the Academy of Intelligent Technologies was signed. The new higher education institution is scheduled to begin operating on September 1, 2027. Its activities will be overseen by a supervisory board headed by the Minister of Education. Under the decree, the academy will train specialists in the natural sciences, industrial and digital technologies, and other promising fields. Earlier discussions of the project frequently highlighted its links to the defense industry. Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who signed the decree establishing the academy, described it as “a presidential initiative, essentially a presidential structure”.
4. Another instance of Lukashenka’s interference in the education system
At the start of the new academic year, Aliaksandr Lukashenka once again intervened in the education system. During a conversation with Education Minister Andrei Ivanets, he demanded that physical training in schools be intensified. The demand was prompted not by concern for students’ health but by criticism from the Ministry of Defense, pointing to the further militarization of education.
Lukashenka also focused on master’s degree programs, once again displaying hostility toward the experience of “Western educational centers and standards”. This reflects the continued push to isolate Belarus from the European education area.
5. Meeting on educational activities licensing
On September 10, 2026, Aliaksandr Lukashenka held a meeting on licensing certain types of activities. The discussion focused primarily on educational services provided by private individuals, including tutoring. Previously, following a negative public reaction, the authorities had abandoned plans to establish a register of tutors. This was mentioned during the meeting. However, this does not mean they have given up on imposing strict controls on this area of work. Obtaining a license will depend not only on having relevant professional qualifications but also on having no criminal convictions under so-called “extremist” articles. A decision on licensing is expected to be made early next year.
Developments abroad
6. English-language Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Belarus published
The world-renowned publisher Routledge has published the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Belarus, edited by Aliaksei Kazharski (copyright 2026).
The handbook comprises 23 articles by prominent Belarusian researchers and international scholars specializing in Belarus, edited by Aliaksei Kazharski. This major reference work offers a comprehensive, in-depth, and multifaceted understanding of the situation in the country. The handbook is divided into four thematic sections covering international and regional relations; changes within the political regime and democratic resistance; forms of governance and relations between the state and society; and history, identity, and language.
7. Conference marking the 150th anniversary of Alaiza Pashkevich (Ciotka)
The conference “The Legacy of Alaiza Pashkevich-Ciotka: A Space for Belarusian–Lithuanian Dialogue” took place in Vilnius on September 25, 2026. Alaiza Pashkevich, known by her pen name Ciotka, was one of the most prominent figures in Belarusian culture and an activist in the Belarusian national movement of the early 20th century. The conference was organized by MEP Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Society for Belarusian Culture in Lithuania Chair Aliaksandr Adamkovich, and Narodnaya Hramada Party First Deputy Chair Yauhen Vilski. The event was supported by the Steponas Kairys Foundation in Lithuania. Participants included Belarusian and Lithuanian literary scholars, historians, and civil society figures. The conference provided an opportunity to revisit Alaiza Pashkevich’s legacy and discuss Belarusian–Lithuanian cultural and historical ties.
8. Second seminar of the “Belarus Forum: Education Reforms for a Democratic Belarus” project
The second seminar of the “Belarus Forum: Education Reforms for a Democratic Belarus” project took place in Berlin on September 9–12, 2026. The seminar and the project were organized by the German Association for East European Studies (DGO e. V.). The project aims to develop proposals for reforming Belarus’s education system, drawing on the experience of Poland and Germany.
Participants included Belarusian experts, university lecturers, schoolteachers, and civil society activists. They visited the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in East Germany, attended lectures by German researchers, and took part in discussions on the democratization of education in the former German Democratic Republic after 1989. They also discussed the project’s final documents.
9. H-Belarus Network’s first anniversary
The H-Belarus Network has celebrated its first anniversary. H-Belarus is part of H-Net Commons, an online platform for the humanities and social sciences. It serves as an international hub for exchanging academic knowledge across the interdisciplinary field of Belarusian studies. Over the past year, H-Belarus has provided a platform for sharing information about conferences, seminars, publications, professional development opportunities, and funding. Every quarter, the network publishes an overview of international publications on Belarusian studies. A reviews section has also been launched. The H-Belarus website features a directory of scholars whose research interests relate to Belarusian studies, as well as resources for learning Belarusian and Belarusian literary texts translated into English.
