With US support gone, Belarusian democratic organizations conflict to survive

US funds have abruptly vanished for exiled Belarusian civilian society groups, throwing them into a fight for survival. Youth initiatives, media outlets and human rights defenders are cutting down on their staff and programmes, creating dangerous gaps that state propaganda is now rushing to fill. Belarusian activists show stubborn determination in the face of this financial earthquake, but without fresh support, the democratic opposition to Lukashenka's government stands on increasingly shaky ground.

Belarusian civilian society has always shown remarkable resilience under pressure. After the contested 2020 presidential elections and the wave of protests that followed, Alyaksandr Lukashenka's government ramped up its crackdown on dissent. Independent media, human rights groups, cultural initiatives, and educational organizations faced brutal repression, with activists imprisoned, groups shut down, and many forced to flee. Today, most Belarusian civilian society organizations and independent media groups operate from exile, primarily in Lithuania and Poland.