Belarus And The Nordics: Cultural And Geographic Differences

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe that shares borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and, to a lesser extent, its Nordic neighbours. While Belarus is not considered a Nordic country, it has received support from the Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly in its struggle for democracy and freedom. The Nordic Media Grants Programme for Belarus, for instance, aims to strengthen democracy and civil society in the country through independent media and media arts. Belarus was also previously included in the Council of Baltic Sea States, which comprises all the Nordic countries, until 2022.

Belarus is not part of the Nordic countries, but it is a member of the Council of Baltic Sea States

Belarus is not a Nordic country. Nordic countries are defined as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and sharing no border with any of the Nordic countries.

However, Belarus is a member of the Council of Baltic Sea States, which includes all the Nordic countries, as well as Poland, Germany, the three Baltic countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), the EU, Russia, and Belarus until 2022. The Council of Baltic Sea States is a geopolitical, environmental, and security alliance. Belarus's membership in the Council of Baltic Sea States indicates its recognition of the importance of the Baltic Sea region and its commitment to cooperation with the Nordic and Baltic countries.

The Baltic Sea stretches from St. Petersburg in the east to Denmark in the west and is of significant cultural, historical, geopolitical, environmental, and security importance to the region. The Hanseatic League, a medieval association of merchants from Northern Europe, shaped trade relations in the area from the 12th to the 16th century and is an example of the historical connections between the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea.

The Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly have expressed strong support for the people of Belarus in their struggle for democracy and freedom. They have emphasized the importance of keeping the situation in Belarus high on the international agenda and have called for further sanctions against the regime, specifically economic sanctions, as the Belarusian regime is highly dependent on financial resources to maintain power.

Additionally, the Nordic Council of Ministers has launched the Nordic Media Grants Programme for Belarus, which aims to strengthen democracy and civil society in the country by supporting independent media and media arts initiatives. The programme provides grants ranging from 5,000 EUR to 30,000 EUR to Belarusian independent media outlets, journalists, and media artists to facilitate the production of high-quality, trustworthy, and diverse content for the Belarusian people.

Nordic countries have limited bilateral relations with Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. It is not considered a Nordic country. Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—have historically had limited bilateral relations with Belarus. However, they have supported Belarus in its struggle for democracy and freedom.

In the early 1990s, Nordic countries strongly supported the Westernization and democratization of their Baltic neighbors, and they were the first to introduce visa-free regimes with Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. However, when it came to Belarus, the Nordic countries took a more modest position. Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland were hesitant to take strong action, despite their history of values-based politics. Their responses to the 2020 Belarus crisis, in which the country signaled its readiness to move on from its communist past, were mostly delivered via multilateral formats. None of these Nordic countries went as far as the Baltic countries in directly sanctioning Belarusian authorities.

The Nordic states have mainly engaged with Belarus indirectly, through international organizations. Their chosen approach during the 2020 crisis indicated a lack of interest in a distant country that has never been a priority on the Nordic agenda. However, their rhetorical support and involvement in international formats have been instrumental in achieving progress, such as invoking the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism and reaching a consensus on sanctioning policies in the EU.

The Nordic Council of Ministers has also shown its support for Belarus through the Nordic Media Grants Programme. The programme aims to strengthen democracy and civil society in the country by supporting independent media and media arts initiatives. It provides grants ranging from 5,000 EUR to 30,000 EUR to eligible applicants, including Belarusian independent media outlets, journalists, and media artists. The overall goal is to promote independent and objective information for the Belarusian people and to inform them about the Nordic countries' societal values and policies towards Belarus.

Nordic countries have supported Belarus's independent journalism and media arts initiatives

Belarus is not a Nordic country. However, the Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly have supported the people of Belarus in their struggle for democracy and freedom. The Nordic countries have also backed the Westernization and democratization of Belarus.

The Nordic Council of Ministers has launched the Nordic Media Grants Programme for Belarus to strengthen democracy and civil society in the country through support for independent media and media arts. The programme aims to support Belarusian independent journalism and media arts initiatives and facilitate the production of high-quality, trustworthy, and diverse content for the Belarusian people on the developments in the country. The grants range from 5,000 EUR to a maximum of 30,000 EUR, with a total sum of approximately 300,000 EUR available for distribution. The programme is co-financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Norwegian Embassy in Lithuania, and the Swedish Institute.

The overall goal of the programme is to support Belarusian independent journalism and media arts initiatives, as well as facilitate the production of high-quality, trustworthy, and diverse content for the Belarusian people on the developments in their country. Belarusian independent media outlets, journalists, and creators of visual, artistic, and interdisciplinary media content are eligible to apply for the grants. The programme also accepts applications from non-Belarusian media outlets that employ or contract Belarusian journalists and produce content on the situation in Belarus.

The programme's focus is on the creation of trustworthy media content that addresses human rights issues such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the rule of law, as well as other standards of democracy and civil society. This support is particularly important as Belarusian independent media and journalists are increasingly persecuted by the authorities following the 2020 presidential elections. According to the 2021 World Press Freedom Index, Belarus is the most dangerous country in Europe for media personnel.

Nordic countries have historically defended human rights and liberties

Belarus is not a Nordic country. Nordic countries include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Nordic countries have a long history of defending human rights and liberties. They have successfully positioned themselves as leading international representatives and advocates for human rights. Nordic countries have a strong belief in the authority of international law and the United Nations, and their commitment to human rights is reflected in their foreign policies.

In practice, however, Nordic countries have been inconsistent in their defence of human rights. While they have taken a strong stance on certain thematic priorities and specific country situations, their actions have not always matched their rhetoric. For example, in the 2020 Belarus crisis, the Nordic countries took a modest position despite their history of values-first politics. Their responses were mostly delivered through multilateral formats, and they did not directly sanction Belarusian authorities like their Baltic neighbours.

Nevertheless, Nordic countries have played an instrumental role in supporting the Westernization and democratization of their Baltic neighbours in the early 1990s. They were also the first to introduce visa-free regimes with the Baltic states. Additionally, Sweden launched a feminist foreign policy in 2014, and Norway has avoided country-specific leadership on human rights issues except for South Sudan since 2019.

Nordic countries have also demonstrated their commitment to human rights through the ratification of various international treaties. Norway, for instance, was the second country to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights and has ratified numerous other treaties focused on maintaining human rights. The rights of all people within Norway are safeguarded by Chapter E of its Constitution, which includes provisions for the right to life, freedom from the death penalty and torture, the right to a fair trial, equality, and the preservation of the Sami language, culture, and way of life.

While Nordic countries have faced challenges and inconsistencies in their defence of human rights, they continue to be regarded as representatives and advocates for these values, especially in contrast to larger states that have abdicated their leadership roles on this front.

Nordic countries have supported Belarus's struggle for democracy and freedom

Belarus is not a Nordic country, but it has received support from Nordic countries in its struggle for democracy and freedom.

In 2020, Belarus experienced a post-election crisis, with pro-democracy demonstrators protesting against the authoritarian rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. While the country is not a neighbour of the Nordic countries, it borders the Baltic states, which are themselves neighbours of Nordic countries. The Baltic Assembly and Nordic Council held an annual summit in December 2020, where they expressed their support for the people of Belarus in their struggle for democracy and freedom. The Nordic Council President, Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir, affirmed the continued support of the Nordic Council, stating that:

> The Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council have a long and proud history of cooperation on several issues. Together we represent parliamentarians from eight countries and three self-governing areas. Today’s meeting sends a clear signal that we will continue to show our unwavering support for the people of Belarus in their fight for democracy.

The Nordic countries played an important role in the Baltic states' path to independence, democracy, and prosperity following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the case of Belarus, the Nordic countries took a more modest position, initially favouring dialogue with Lukashenka. However, they eventually pushed for sanctions and non-recognition of the regime's legitimacy. The Nordic countries also invoked the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism, sending a mission to investigate and assist with solving human rights issues in Belarus.

The Nordic-Baltic foreign ministers (NB8) met in September 2020 to discuss the situation in Belarus, among other issues. Lithuania's Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevičius, emphasised the need for democratic states to support the people of Belarus in their quest for freedom. The participants unanimously agreed on the urgency of EU sanctions against Belarus.

In 2024, Sweden coordinated the informal foreign and security cooperation formats of the NB8 and the Nordic countries (N5). As part of this, the Nordic Ministers for Foreign Affairs met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces in exile, to discuss how best to support the Belarusian democratic movement.

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