Belarus Unsettled: Dynamics and Trajectories

The gradual release of hundreds of Belarusian political prisoners in the context of diplomatic talks with the Trump administration has raised hopes for a cautious opening towards the West, even as the authoritarian character of the system remains fundamentally unchanged and politically motivated criminal prosecutions continue. While Washington started a process of substantial sanctions relief, the EU has maintained a more restrictive line, while EU sanctions remain focused on systemic change: ending the war, enabling a democratic transition, and ensuring accountability. 

At the same time, Belarus remains closely tied to Russia in foreign policy terms. At least passively, it supports Russia’s war against Ukraine and allows the stationing of Russian missiles on its territory – a substantial challenge to security arrangements on NATO’s eastern flank. 

Belarusian democratic forces and civil society actors remain internationally recognized as a moral voice. However, their actual influence on political developments is increasingly being called into question, given Lukashenko's continued firm grip on power. 

Against this backdrop, the Berlin Belarus Future Forum 2026 unites a broad coalition of German civic organisations committed to a democratic Belarus in a common European future. The Forum provides a platform to discuss current developments in the country and German and European foreign policy strategies vis-à-vis Belarus.

The Berlin Belarus Future Forum 2026 is hosted by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung in cooperation with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Für die Freiheit, partnering with Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights, Belarusische Gemeinschaft Razam and Science at Risk.

16.00 Welcome

Jan Philip Albrecht, Co-President, Heinrich Böll Stiftung

16.15 Keynotes

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head of United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus
Ales Bialiatski, Human Rights Activist and Laureate of the Nobel Peace Award
Staatsminister Florian Hahn, Federal Foreign Office of Germany

Q & A

17.15 Panel/ Talk 1

The Role of Germany and the EU in Addressing the Situation in Belarus

Maria Kalesnikava, Civil rights activist
Dzianis Kuchynski, Diplomatic Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Knut Abraham, MP, German Bundestag, CDU 
Sabine Fischer, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP Berlin)

Moderator: Gabriele Baumann, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Belarus-Office, Vilnius

18.30 Break

19.00 Parallel fora:

Forum 1 (English only): 
Belarus‘ Role in the Russian war against Ukraine  English only

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, MEP (tbc)
Robin Wagener, MP, German Bundestag, Alliance 90/ The Greens
Pavlo Rad, Political analyst, PrismUA, Ukraine 
Valery Kavaleuski, Analyst, Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Agency

Moderator: Lennart Jürgensen, Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit

Forum 2 (English only): 
Shifts of Discourse on Belarus in Lithuania, Poland and the United States: Implications for people and politics  

Tomas  Tomilinas, Member of the Seimas, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs 
Mark A. Dietzen, Resident Program Director at International Republican Institute
Michał Kamiński, Deputy Speaker of Polish Senate, the Union of European Democrats
Artyom Shraibman, political analyst, founder of Sense Analytics and non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Moderator: Viktoryia Andrukovich, Dialogbuero Vienna

Forum 3 (Simultaneous translation German-Belarusian): 
Belarusian Society today: Economic Situation and Social Resilience 

Stasia Glinnik, Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Maksim Pazniakou, Belarusian Independent Trade Union 
Lev Lvovskiy, Academic Director, BEROC Research Center

Moderator: Lisa Gürth, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

20.15 Reception

Language: Simultaneous translation Belarusian - German (plenary room), English (two of three parallel panel talks)

Your Participation in the event

» Participation on site
at the the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

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» Livestream
Alternatively, you can follow the event via livestream.
Livestream in German 
Livestream in Russian