Opposition political movements in Belarus have planned a rally in Kastryčnickaya Square, central Minsk, on December 20. They are protesting against further bilateral integration with Russia. The rally is expected to be largely peaceful and risk of violence remains low. A week ago, 1,000 Belarusians joined an unauthorised demonstration on Saturday (December 7) against the prospect of a closer union with Russia. The ex-Soviet republic formed a nominal union with Moscow in the 1990s, with close trade and military cooperation, but speculation has grown that Alexander Lukashenko intends to agree a formal unification of the two countries.
International Political Scenario for Belarus 13 – 20 December 2019
