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Belarus was once Europe’s forgotten country, although that is no longer the case. President Lukashenko has been in power now for 31 years, the last dictatorship in Europe, remaining Russia’s closest ally. The country has suffered an extremely turbulent period, with mass protests in 2020, a brutal ongoing human rights clampdown taking place ever since, the forced diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978 to arrest a civil society activist and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which was launched from Belarusian territory.
Jack served on the ground during this extraordinary period and will share his views and observations on these events, looking past the headlines to offer a fresh perspective on the country. Jack will discuss what life was like for a British diplomat living inside Belarus and why the country matters more than ever, also looking ahead to what next.
Jack Hands served as Britain’s Deputy Ambassador and His Majesty’s Consul to Belarus from 2021 to 2024. Jack is currently Head of the UK Central European Foreign Policy Network, based in Vienna. Prior to this, he was Press Officer to the Minister for Exports and held roles in the UK and European Parliaments, with a stint in South Korea reporting on Korean peninsula issues.
