Belarusian civil society in exile in the context of the war in Ukraine

Until the presidential election of 2020 and the mass protests that followed, Belarusian society was mainly characterised as apolitical, while organised civil society was primarily seen as weak and marginalised. However, the political crisis in 2020 caused unexpected mass protests that resulted in the appearance of new diverse social movements and grassroots initiatives, and the reactivation of institutionalised civil society. After the Belarusian protests were heavily suppressed by authorities and mass repression began in the country in late 2020, civil society activists, CSOs and initiatives had no choice but to adapt themselves to the worsening environment. Some left the country and continued their activities abroad; some decided to stay and perform smaller-scale underground activities within the country. When a substantial part of Belarusian civil society organisations and activists moved abroad (mainly to Lithuania, Poland, and Georgia), they found themselves in a new environment of different countries with their specific rules of the game and challenges. Nevertheless, Belarusian political and civic activists in exile have been able to create an institutionalised opposition structure, to re-establish or found new civil society organisations and media, and create physical and virtual platforms and spaces for the newly emerging pro-democratic Belarusian diaspora. Prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a number of Belarusian activists and organisations escaping repression in their own country moved to Ukraine. The war forced Belarusians in Ukraine to deal with a direct threat to their lives and security. Belarusian opposition, civil society and democratically minded members of the public responded to the war with unconditional support for Ukraine. However, pro-democratic Belarusian civil society organisations and activists also found themselves in a puzzling situation of being citizens of a country which acts as a de facto partner in Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The war has changed previously mostly sympathetic public attitudes to the suffering and repression Belarusians had experienced under their own regime in Ukraine as well as in other democratic countries. Now, Belarusian opposition and civil society activists must deal with the consequences of changes in popular and political attitudes, particularly in the countries where most Belarusian organisations and activists are now based (Poland, Lithuania and Georgia). Based on 37 semi-structured interviews with representatives of Belarusian opposition and civil society conducted in these 3 countries in the period February – July 2023, this paper explores the current state of Belarusian civil society in exile within the changing regional and security environment and the problems they face in exile. We also analyse the reactions of Belarusian civil and political activists and exiled opposition to the war in Ukraine. We begin with a description of the process of relocation and (re-)establishment of Belarusian civil society and political opposition abroad and proceed with analysing their activities and the challenges they face. Then, we discuss their reactions and actions regarding Russia's military aggression. Finally, we summarise our findings related to the transborder/ transnational experience of existence and the war context for the Belarusian civil society.