The Belarus Factor: Power, Politics and the Region with Ivan Kravtsov

The Belarus Factor: Power, Politics and the Region with Ivan Kravtsov
Podcast Description
Step into the heart of Eastern Europe as Ivan Kravtsov takes you beyond the headlines and straight to the frontlines of Belarusian politics. Each episode examines how Belarus’s shifting power plays and diplomatic tensions reverberate across Poland, the Baltics, Russia, and Ukraine—revealing the high stakes at this critical crossroads. Expect bold commentary, insider interviews, and real stories from the ground. Tune in for unfiltered insights that decode the true “Belarus Factor” shaping our world today.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes including Belarusian political dynamics, the impact of international relations, and civil society challenges, featuring episodes on the U.S. funding freeze's effects on opposition efforts and the potential outcomes of the upcoming 2025 elections under Alexander Lukashenko's regime.

Step into the heart of Eastern Europe as Ivan Kravtsov takes you beyond the headlines and straight to the frontlines of Belarusian politics. Each episode examines how Belarus’s shifting power plays and diplomatic tensions reverberate across Poland, the Baltics, Russia, and Ukraine—revealing the high stakes at this critical crossroads. Expect bold commentary, insider interviews, and real stories from the ground. Tune in for unfiltered insights that decode the true “Belarus Factor” shaping our world today.
In this episode, we speak with Tatsiana Khomich, the sister of Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava. Tatsiana was part of Viktar Babaryka’s 2020 campaign team and remains an active member of his team in exile. After leaving Belarus, she became a human rights advocate and one of the leading international voices for political prisoners.
We talk about the recent release of 14 political prisoners — including the husband of opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya — following the visit of U.S. Presidential Envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg. While cautious, this development offers a glimmer of hope for progress in Belarus’s deepening human rights crisis.
We also explore the current state of U.S.–Belarus dialogue, the ongoing repression inside the country, and what EU member states can do to support the release of those still behind bars.
Sign the petition to support political prisoners: https://releasenow.org
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