The Profile: Aleksandr LukashenkoThe president of Belarus, who clung to power in the face of mass protests and was under scrutiny again following events at the Tokyo Olympics and the death of a dissident
Lukashenko power play forces Europe to take noticeThe kidnapping of opposition dissident Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend from a Ryanair flight was the latest signal that the embattled Belarusian dictator will do whatever it takes to keep his regime in place
Europe must not fail the desperate citizens of Belarus The escalating crisis in ‘the North Korea of Europe’ must focus minds in Brussels, Warsaw and Berlin
Lucinda Creighton: Soft sanctions have failed to deter Putin and his puppets Last week’s state-sponsored highjacking of a Ryanir plane should be a wake-up call to the EU on the very real threats to our security
Taoiseach: Diversion of Ryanair flight was ‘piracy’ Grounding of flight in Minsk to arrest a journalist was ‘contrary to any sense of human decency or democratic values,’ Micheál Martin says
Vincent Boland: Acts of heroism and humanity stand out in an annus horribilisFrom athletes to protesters, and from young people to scientists, 2020 was shaped by inspiring people who gave the world reason to hope