Changes in the Baltic States' Foreign Policy towards Belarus after the 2020 Belarusian Presidential Elections

Alise Ozolina

Master's thesis

Abstract:

2020 was a year the world was not only faced with the global pandemic due to a new deadly covid-19 virus but also with various general elections amongst several countries, one of these countries being Belarus. Long reigning president Lukashenko once again announced himself a winner with an almost 80% majority vote. This particular fact was not surprising, as this particular leader had long been found accused of rigging elections, however, what was outside the norm this time around was the attack on peaceful protesters, the media, and innocent bystanders that followed afterward. This thesis reveals the Baltic States’ response to the affair after this event triggered an avalanche of measures and counter-measures by the three countries. This study deals with a particular instance of foreign policy change in the form of the Baltic States’ decision to censor the Belarusian government after its mangled 2020 elections.

Abstract:

2020 was a year the world was not only faced with the global pandemic due to a new deadly covid-19 virus but also with various general elections amongst several countries, one of these countries being Belarus. Long reigning president Lukashenko once again announced himself a winner with an almost 80% majority vote. This particular fact was not surprising, as this particular leader had long been found accused of rigging elections, however, what was outside the norm this time around was the attack on peaceful protesters, the media, and innocent bystanders that followed afterward. This thesis reveals the Baltic States’ response to the affair after this event triggered an avalanche of measures and counter-measures by the three countries. This study deals with a particular instance of foreign policy change in the form of the Baltic States’ decision to censor the Belarusian government after its mangled 2020 elections.

Keywords

Lithuania, Belarus, Foreign Policy, Bilateral Relations, Foreign Policy Change, Baltic States, Latvia, Estonia, Lukashenko

Keywords

Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy Change, Bilateral Relations, Baltic States, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, Lukashenko

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 29. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 9. 6. 2022
• Supervisor: Jan Martin Rolenc
• Reader: Jaroslav Weinfurter

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme / field:
Mezinárodní ekonomické vztahy / International and Diplomatic Studies