Belarus Unsettled: Dynamics and Trajectories

Перевод на белорусский язык будет опубликован в ближайшее время.

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 opposition 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.

3 November 2026, 16.00 – 21.00 - Public Conference
Keynotes by 
Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head of United Transitional Cabinet
Ales Bialiatski, Nobel Prize Laureate 
Florian Hahn, State Minister at German Federal Foreign Office (tbc)
Full conference program to be shared on this website closer to the conference date.

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

4 November 2026, 10.00 – 16.00 - Expert Roundtable, on invitation only; Language: English

Your Participation in the event

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

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Accessing our building

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Wheelchair spaces
In our event spaces we provide dedicated spots for wheelchair users. All tables come with a wheelchair clearance.

For further questions please contact our event staff.
Further information on accessibility can be found here.

» Online participation in ZOOM
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» Livestream
Alternatively, you can follow the event via livestream.