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The National Anti-Crisis Management strongly condemns the act of military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and support them at this difficult moment in history. Ukraine is fighting now not only for its territorial integrity, but it is fighting for freedom for the entire Europe. The Belarusian people have never been at war with the Ukrainian people and today the Belarusians are also against the war. Only the dictator Lukashenka has become Putin’s accomplice by providing the territory of Belarus for the deployment of the aggressor’s troops. The Lukashenka regime and the dictator personally are also fully responsible for the military aggression against Ukraine. The perpetrators must be held accountable under international law for actions that grossly violate international law. We call on all Belarusians to support Ukraine! Belarusians, fellow citizens, the military junta led by dictator Alexander Lukashenka poses a threat to our statehood and sovereignty. At this historic moment, the Belarusian people have to make a civilizational choice: do we want to live in a sovereign country, where human rights and freedoms are respected, in a state which determines its own foreign and domestic policy, or to become a satellite of the Russian Federation. Only the Belarusian people can defend the independence of Belarus! Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!

Financial turmoil in the markets. And what should Belarusians do? "If there is a war tomorrow" — with these words my appeal began to Belarusians literally four days ago. What to do? Go and withdraw from ATMs, withdraw ALL your money from accounts and deposits — that was the answer. And on 21 February, the President of Russia recognized the so-called Donetsk and Lugansk National’s Republics. And he ordered that the armed forces of the Russian Federation "carry out peacekeeping functions" in these self-proclaimed territorial entities. The mere fact of recognition is a sufficient reason for serious retaliatory sanctions from the West. And the West has stated this clearly. And any military aggression that may follow will trigger sanctions on a never-before-seen scale. But even now, even before the sanctions, the shares of Russian banks and companies on the Moscow Exchange are rapidly flying down. And the exchange rates are up. Do I need to tell you how strongly the economy of Belarus is connected with the Russian one and how directly the exchange rates in Belarus depend on the exchange rates in Moscow? I’m sure not. Sanctions against Russia are already inevitable. And they will definitely affect Belarus, the country’s financial system. Therefore, in the current situation, I will simply recommend what should be done right now. You need to go and take all your money from banks — both from cards and from deposits, if you have them. And exchange currency. Time to act. ATM — exchanger — bank!

The National Anti-Crisis Management of Belarus considers Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of the so-called DNR and LNR to be a blatant violation of universally recognized principles and norms of international law. It violates the legal order established by the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act of 1975. The cornerstone of the European security system is the principle of inviolability of frontiers, which has been honed as a result of bloody wars on our continent. The Kremlin’s actions aimed at undermining this fundamental principle threaten the territorial integrity of all States that have emerged in the post-Soviet space. We call on democratic countries to take decisive measures aimed at defending the sovereignty and independence of post-Soviet states. Given the stationing of Russian troops on the territory of Belarus and the illegitimate institutions of power in our country, we consider this decision of Russia as an action which may lead to the loss of sovereignty and independence of Belarus. We appeal to the Belarusian people — only the Belarusians have the right to decide about the future of their country, only the Belarusian people can ensure the independence of our state. The destiny of Belarus is in our hands! February 21, 2022

The European Union synchronizes sanctions against the sovereign debt of Belarus with the United States Against the backdrop of the disturbing events of recent days, the news about the expansion of EU sanctions against Belarusian banks went almost unnoticed. The appearance of the Development Bank in the sanctions list of the EU deserves special attention. Why is it important? We have already reported that in 2022 the Development Bank intends to issue bonds for a record amount of $ 1 billion. At the same time, we noted that the Development Bank, along with the Ministry of Finance, are under US sanctions against sovereign debt, which makes the bonds of the Development Bank a "junk asset" and any buyer of them a target for secondary sanctions. The decision of the European Union to expand sanctions and include them on the list of the Development Bank is an important step towards synchronization of EU and US sanctions. And a new signal to potential buyers: any transactions with Lukashenka’s bonds are a high-risk area. So the Development Bank will cancel the issuance of its junk bonds? Under the conditions of sanctions, such an issue has indeed lost all meaning for attracting external financing. To turn this waste paper into cash, the regime has only 2 options left: An attempt to enter the Moscow Exchange with them. However, we have already warned Russia about the consequences of allocating any loans of the Lukashenka regime — in this case, we will seek the application of secondary US sanctions to creditors and investors. And in the conditions of Russian aggression, this prospect is more than likely to occur. Forced sale of bonds to Belarusian commercial banks. In this case, the money on our bank accounts and deposits will be used to purchase bonds. This is the "big robbery of Belarusians", which was repeatedly warned earlier. Given the events of recent days, such a robbery could happen at any moment. What to do in order not to lose your money? Constantly withdraw all money from the card and close all your deposits, if you have any. And try to buy as much currency as your possibilities allow. It’s time to save money.

Vladzimir Astapenka took the position of Deputy Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management. The NAM team expansion Structural changes are taking place in the NAM team as part of the reorganization of work Vladzimir Astapenka took the position of deputy Head of the NAM responsible for foreign policy. The position of responsible for strategic planning and coordination was taken by Valery Matskevich. Pavel Bertsov joined the foreign policy department, Yauheni Malashuk continues to work in the NAM media team after leaving Belarus. Coordinator Lena Zhivoglod is leaving the team and will focus on community activities *Honest people. — "I, together with the community *Honest people, will focus on building and developing a civil society in Belarus. At the same time, as before, the NAM and *Honest people will have many joint projects." — said Lena Zhivoglod. The National Anti-Crisis Management thanks Lena Zhivoglod for her work from the very foundation of the structure and her contribution to the creation and development of the NAM. We are convinced that by working together we will achieve our common goal. The National Anti-Crisis Management will only intensify activities in key areas of the strategy: political, legal and economic pressure on the regime, as well as to achieve the main goal — the construction of a new democratic Belarus.

Official position and letter of the NAM on the potential allocation of lending to the Lukashenko regime from the Russian Federation Yesterday, the information space was actively discussing the news that Moscow had expressed its readiness to consider proposals from the Lukashenko regime to refinance its debt obligations to the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development and the Russian Federation. At the same time, as a positive point, it was noted that we are talking about the possible allocation of only one billion dollars this year — instead of a loan of 3.5 billion dollars, which was previously requested by the Lukashenko regime and the work on the allocation of which within the framework of the EFSD was announced by the so-called Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov. Let us remind you that in the coming year, the Lukashenko regime must return almost $1 billion 200 million in loans to Russia and almost $400 million in loans from the EFSD. The total payments on Belarus' sovereign debt (external and internal) in 2022 will amount to almost 10.5 billion Belarusian rubles in equivalent — or almost 4 billion dollars. Considering the fact that Lukashenko’s regime has lost almost all sources for attracting external loans, is losing and will continue to lose foreign exchange earnings from exports necessary to pay off debts due to the sanctions imposed against it, as well as due to the sanctions imposed on sovereign debt by the United States of America — any opportunity to obtain external lending is critical for him. In this regard, the National's Anti-Crisis Management considers unacceptable the potential allocation of even one billion dollars to the Lukashenko regime, which will prolong the economic agony of the dictatorship in our country. In conditions where the Lukashenko regime continues to increase repression, trades the sovereignty of Belarus, organizes itself and takes an active part in aggressive actions against our neighbors, thereby creating a military threat in the region, and also demonstrates a complete inability to maintain the existence of Belarus as a viable political and economic entity and turns our Republic into a “collapsing state”. — We are convinced that any external support for this regime, allowing it to prolong its existence, is a threat to the security of Belarusian citizens and the preservation of the sovereignty and independence of our country. Therefore, on the eve of the meeting between Lukashenko and Putin on February 18, at which the conditions for providing external financing to the regime will most likely be agreed upon, we notified the government of the Russian Federation, as well as all offices of the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development of the following: First: in the case of allocating loans to the Lukashenko regime for any amount, the lending authority must take into account the illegitimacy of citizen Lukashenko and his non-recognition as a legitimate president by both the Belarusian people and the majority of countries in the civilized world. Thus, any lending to the Republic of Belarus is not possible due to the fact that it is currently represented by citizens who are not authorized to do so by the Belarusian people, do not have the appropriate mandate and do not have the authority to do so from the point of view of international law. Second: the Republic of Belarus has nothing to do with the receipt of external loans by this citizen and any of his representatives. And the creditors will make further claims from citizen Lukashenko personally. Third: if, despite all of the above, the allocation of a loan to the Lukashenko regime takes place, the National's Anti-Crisis Management will make every effort to ensure that secondary US sanctions are applied to the creditors, based on Directive 1 and US President Joe Biden's Executive Order 14,038, according to which against the sovereign debt of Belarus, the Ministry of Finance and the Development Bank are subject to sanctions from this country. This position of the National's Anti-Crisis Management is reflected in the corresponding letter to potential creditors and sent to them today, February 17, 2022. Letter ⇲

Artsiom Praskalovich on Belsat — The appointment of officials to the highest positions in Belarus is accompanied by a mandatory loyalty test, and the security forces are also checked on a lie detector. — Lukashenka starts criminal cases even against foreign citizens abroad. However, outside of Belarus, no one takes it seriously. — A fugitive Polish soldier Emil Chechko, who, according to him, killed 20 people daily, and his lawsuit in the Hague court is another attempt by the regime to divert attention from the crisis in Belarus, mainly on the eve of the criminal "referendum". — Russian-Belarusian military trainings are held within the framework of the Union State, which in itself is illegal: according to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, entry into such unions must be preceded by a republican referendum. — Lukashenka lost his subjectivity, becoming a puppet of the Kremlin. If a military conflict starts from the territory of our country, then Belarus will be considered as an aggressor and the consequences of this cannot be avoided. The negligence of one of the tens of thousands of Russian soldiers who are now in Belarus can lead to irreparable consequences for the entire Belarusian people.

Below only Nicaragua, Egypt and Venezuela The National Anti-Crisis Management analyzed the results of the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2021 study. If we take the observance of the law by the country’s government as a conditional 100 points, then Lukashenka’s regime complies with the law by 2 points. Changes in the positions of Belarus in the world legal ranking of the World Justice Project over the past few years: 2019 — 113 out of 126 countries 2020 — 118 out of 128 countries 2021 — 136 out of 139 countries, only below Nicaragua, Egypt and Venezuela. Belarus ranks 138th out of 139 countries in the index of the legality of the change of power in the country (the last is Venezuela). Belarus ranks 138th out of 139 countries in terms of the degree of restriction of government powers by the legislature (the last is Egypt). Belarus ranks 136th out of 139 countries in terms of the degree of restriction of the powers of the government by the judiciary (below — Venezuela, Mauritania and Cambodia). The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index measures the degree to which a country’s institutions of government are restricted by law. It includes constitutional and institutional means by which the powers of government officials are limited, and in case of violation of the law, representatives of such government are effectively held accountable. "The low level of compliance with legal norms by the Lukashenka regime affects all spheres of society, destroying them: medicine, education, economy, free press, etc. It is impossible not to pay attention to violations of the law and live calmly as before. If we do not stop the dictator and his accomplices, not a single sphere of life in Belarus will be able to avoid destruction. Today we are talking not only about the low ratings of the country, but about the creation by the regime of a negative image of Belarus in the world. This can only be changed when we get rid of the dictatorship" — said Pavel Latushka.

"New Belarus on the geopolitical map of the world: good neighborliness and national interests" The conference will take place on February 16, from 13:00—16:00 (Minsk time) in the Zoom-conference format. Register for the broadcast at the link. The conference will consist of 3 panels. Panel 1: "Potential Foreign Policy Priorities of Belarus in the Transition Period". Speakers: Valery Karbalevich, Andrey Vardomatsky, Ryhor Astapenya. Panel 2: "The view of global players: Belarus in the orbit of interests." Speakers: Dmitry Bolkunets, Albinas Yanushka, Alena Kudzko, Evgeny Magda. Panel 3: "Basic principles and procedures for the development of the foreign policy of the New Belarus". Speakers: Vladzimir Astapenka, Valery Kovalevsky, Anatoly Lebedko, Valery Tsepkalo. Online access to the discussion will be open only to registered viewers. See you!

Report of the Belarusian Students' Association This report was prepared by the Belarusian Students' Association in cooperation with the Belarusian Independent Bologna Committee to inform concerned parties on the repressions in the Belarusian academia and is a continuation of the report on violations in the academia during the period of August-December 2020. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive source of evidence of persecution but was created to facilitate understanding of the depth of repressions and the degree of involvement of university administrations in it, as well as for use in raising awareness of violations of the rights of academics in and outside of Belarus in 2021. All materials are collected directly from independent university student associations that are part of the BSA, as well as from openonline sources of information. All statistics are taken from the Honest University database and include the entire period from 2020 to the present. The report also contains recommendations for European actors to work on all the violations mentioned in the document. Full report

What threatened the minister who did not come to Lukashenka’s hockey tournament? Full version of Pavel Latushka interview for the CHESTNOK channel. What was the attitude towards sports within the state management system? How to treat the athletes who signed the pro-government letter? Censorship at the Olympics is the USSR era. Doing sports is the right thing!

With faith in Free Belarus and in the people who create it Vladimir Neklyaev wrote such inspiring words on a copy of his book "Gey ben ginom", which became another gift for the Museum of Free Belarus. At the end of last year, the presentation of the novel was a success in Poland and Lithuania. The edition with the original autograph of the author, whose life and work is devoted to serving independent and sovereign Belarus, has become a valuable asset of the museum’s collection of printed publications. Vladimir Neklyaeu also joined those who signed an open letter to UNESCO with a request to draw the attention of the international organization to the repressions and harsh pressure of the Lukashenka regime on Belarusian culture and its figures. The National Anti-Crisis Management expresses gratitude to the respected Vladimir Prokopovich, and also thanks all Belarusians who donate museum items and their digital copies as a gift to the Museum of Free Belarus. Your information submitted via the @NAUsupport chatbot will remain anonymous if you wish. Together we will preserve our history.