By Darko Kalinowski, Our House, June 9, 2026

On June 7th, Belarusians in Vilnius gathered at Kudirkos Square for an anti-nuclear action marking four months since the expiration of the New START Treaty, the last remaining agreement limiting the strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia. The treaty expired on 5 February 2026, leaving the world without a key mechanism for controlling the two largest nuclear arsenals and raising concerns about a new era of nuclear competition.

The action continued a tradition of public anti-nuclear protests organized by Belarusian activists. As in previous events, participants brought a large red button labeled “Do Not Press” — a visual reminder of the catastrophic consequences that political decisions involving nuclear weapons could have for humanity. The demonstration also featured a series of creative flash mobs highlighting the dangers of nuclear escalation and the growing absence of effective international arms control.

For Belarusians, the issue has particular significance. On 27 February 2022, the Lukashenka regime conducted an illegitimate constitutional referendum that removed Belarus’s non-nuclear status from the Constitution. This change paved the way for the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. In 2023, Belarus became host to Russian tactical nuclear weapons under a so-called nuclear sharing arrangement, placing the country at the center of growing regional security concerns.

Participants stressed that Belarus is increasingly being used as a platform for nuclear intimidation and geopolitical pressure rather than as a contributor to regional peace and stability. They emphasized that Belarusian citizens were never given a genuine democratic opportunity to decide whether their country should become involved in nuclear military strategies.

Activists also warned that the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus has broader consequences for the entire region. What was once considered unacceptable is gradually becoming normalized. As a result, discussions about acquiring or hosting nuclear weapons are becoming more common in countries neighboring Belarus and Russia. Such trends risk triggering a new regional arms race and further weakening international security.

During the rally, participants repeated three key messages: no to nuclear weapons, no to nuclear blackmail, and no to turning Belarus into a nuclear hostage of the Lukashenka and Putin regimes.

Following the action, Belarusian activists released a special free Telegram sticker pack inspired by the campaign’s anti-nuclear messages, symbols, and slogans. The sticker pack is available for download at https://t.me/addstickers/StopBYNukes, allowing supporters to spread the campaign’s message online and raise awareness about the nuclear risks facing Belarus and the wider region.

Four months after the expiration of New START, organizers argue that the absence of effective arms control mechanisms makes public opposition to nuclear weapons and nuclear blackmail more important than ever. They stress that Belarus should contribute to regional security and peace, not serve as a platform for nuclear escalation.

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