On May 21, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) hosted the international workshop “Protecting Regional Security through Sanctions against Belarus”, bringing together online and in-person more then 50 academics, policymakers, civil society representatives and practitioners from Lithuania, Germany, Latvia and other European countries to discuss the legal, political and security dimensions of sanctions against Belarus.
The workshop examined Belarus’ role in contemporary regional security challenges, including its participation in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, its involvement in sanctions circumvention schemes, and ongoing human rights violations. Participants explored the effectiveness of sanctions as instruments for responding to serious breaches of international law, enforcing fundamental international norms and strengthening accountability mechanisms.
The event featured experts from leading academic institutions and research centres, including MRU, the University of Bremen, the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies, the Latvian Institute of International Affairs and other European universities and organisations. The programme also included representatives of civil society and practitioners working on sanctions implementation, human rights and regional security issues.
The Programme
Discussions focused on the legal foundations of sanctions under international and European Union law, challenges related to sanctions enforcement and circumvention, the role of sanctions in responding to grave human rights violations, and broader questions concerning European security and resilience in the face of authoritarian threats.
A particular emphasis was placed on the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation between legal scholars, political scientists, economists and practitioners. The workshop provided a platform for dialogue between academia, policymakers and civil society, allowing participants to exchange perspectives and identify areas requiring further research and policy development.
The event also contributed to strengthening Baltic-German academic cooperation and expanding professional networks focused on sanctions policy, international law, human rights and regional security. Participants discussed opportunities for future joint initiatives, including a policy brief, academic publications and the preparation of a thematic Belarus Analytical Digest.
The workshop is organised by MRU in cooperation with partner institutions in Latvia and Germany: The Research Centre for East European Studies of the University of Bremen, The Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS) and The Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA). The event is supported within the project competition of the Baltic-German University Liaison Office, which promotes academic cooperation between Germany and the Baltic States. The workshop also benefits from the organisational and expert support of the Multidisciplinary International Network on Sanctions (MINOS).
By fostering international dialogue and interdisciplinary cooperation, the workshop contributed to a deeper understanding of sanctions as a non-military tool for protecting international peace, democracy, human rights and the rule-based international order.
