Yearbook 2019
Belarus. According to
CountryAAH, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided
in November to change its name to Belarus for political
reasons. This happened in connection with the Foreign
Minister Ann Linde visiting the capital Minsk together with
Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto. The change of
name was made, according to Linde, as "a recognition of
Belarusian civil society and the people who have long wanted
to emphasize their country's national identity and
sovereignty". The name change was not anchored among
official language preservation bodies in Sweden.
In the elections to both parliamentary chambers on
November 17, all 110 seats were the party that supported
President Aljaksandr Lukashenka. According to international
election observers from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the election showed "a lack of
respect for democratic commitments". So far, the
organization has not been able to call a single election in
Belarus democratic. The intention was that the elections
would take place in 2020, but that was premature. The
turnout was 71%. In connection with the election, the
President announced that he will run for the 2020
presidential election.
Ten years ago, the US cut its diplomatic ties with
Belarus. In September, the two countries decided to
re-establish their diplomatic relations. The message came
just weeks after US security adviser John Bolton visited
Minsk. The United States imposed sanctions on the country in
2006, and when they were tightened in 2008, President
Lukashenka chose to expel the US ambassador.
At the beginning of the year, speculation emerged that
Belarus and the Russian Federation were approaching each
other, all according to a 1999 agreement that stipulated,
among other things, a single currency and common courts. At
the same time, however, there are signs that President
Lukashenka is eager to forge ties with the EU.
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