Does the West support terrorist sleeper cells in Belarus? What sources show

Publication date: 2026-06-18

Claim

Belarusian authorities have claimed that terrorist sleeper cells were uncovered in Belarus and were linked to Germany, the United States, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, as well as to plans for violent regime change.

Verdict

Not proven / misleading.

The public materials checked for this article show that Alexander Lukashenko made this claim and that it was repeated in the state-linked information space. They do not provide independent evidence that the named countries directed or supported such groups. A wider human rights context points to another persistent problem: Belarus uses anti-terrorism and anti-extremism rules against political opponents, journalists, human rights defenders, cultural initiatives and peaceful expression.

In brief

• The sleeper-cell claim was made in 2021 amid Belarus's conflict with the EU, sanctions and the domestic crisis after the 2020 election.

• Euronews, BBC and RFI reported that Lukashenko accused Germany, the United States, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, but they also noted the lack of public proof or the absence of independent confirmation.

• Ukraine denied interference in Belarus's internal affairs.

• In 2026, UN experts and the EUAA continued to describe the use of anti-terrorism and anti-extremism laws in Belarus against peaceful expression, civic engagement and political dissent.

• For that reason, the formula "the West supports terrorist cells in Belarus" cannot be treated as established fact on the basis of reliable open sources.

Why this matters

Claims like this can turn civil society, opposition groups, independent media and neighbouring states into one alleged external conspiracy. For Russian-language and Belarusian-language audiences, that can reduce trust in exile organisations, human rights defenders and independent sources. It can also help justify harsh internal measures as counter-terrorism.

What we checked

We checked what international media reported about the original statement, which countries were named, whether public evidence was presented, and how this narrative fits with newer sources on the use of anti-terrorism and anti-extremism rules in Belarus.

Evidence

Euronews reported that Lukashenko said Belarus had dismantled "terrorist sleeper cells" allegedly linked to Germany, Ukraine, the United States, Poland and Lithuania. According to his version, the groups were preparing violent regime change and weapons were allegedly flowing from Ukraine. The article also placed the statement in the context of EU sanctions and deteriorating Belarus-West relations after the forced landing of a Ryanair flight.

BBC wrote that Belarus closed its border with Ukraine after alleging arms smuggling and foreign support for sleeper cells. BBC directly noted that Lukashenko made the allegations without providing proof. Ukraine denied interference in Belarus's internal affairs and warned that ordinary people would suffer from the border closure.

RFI / AFP also reported Lukashenko's claim about sleeper cells and listed the same countries. The article included the reaction of Franak Viacorka, senior adviser to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who called the accusations insane and suggested that they could be used as a pretext for pressure on diplomats.

EUvsDisinfo included the story in its disinformation database under the claim that the United States, Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania support sleeper cells in Belarus. That matters because the narrative is treated in a European monitoring database as a disinformation case rather than as a proven fact.

Newer human rights sources add important context. In May 2026, the EUAA report on political opposition and dissent in Belarus described restrictions on civic space through laws targeting "extremism" and "terrorism", official lists and politically motivated prosecutions, including cases related to donations to organisations labelled extremist.

On 2 June 2026, UN experts said that anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation in Belarus continues to be used to criminalise peaceful expression, civic engagement and cultural activity. They also expressed concern about the treatment of detainees designated as "extremists" or "terrorists".

Human Rights Watch, in its World Report 2026, described continuing politically motivated prosecutions, the use of fabricated "extremism" and other charges, and the listing of opposition structures as organisations linked to terrorist activity.

Taken together, the sources show that the claim existed as a statement by Belarusian authorities. They do not confirm the central allegation that the named Western and neighbouring states supported terrorist cells.

What remains unknown

We cannot verify closed materials of Belarusian security services if they are not published and cannot be examined independently. It is also unclear what evidence, if any, Belarusian authorities may have presented in non-public channels. A careful public formulation must therefore separate the fact that the statement was made from the question of whether it was proven.

Conclusion

The claim that Germany, the United States, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania supported terrorist sleeper cells in Belarus is not confirmed by reliable open sources. The checked materials show a statement by Belarusian authorities and its political context, but not independent evidence. In a wider context, the narrative fits a pattern of presenting opposition, civil society and neighbouring states as security threats.

Sources

• Euronews: Belarus says it has dismantled 'terrorist sleeper cells' with ties to West. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2021/07/02/belarus-says-it-has-dismantled-terrorist-sleeper-cells-with-ties-to-west

• BBC News: Belarus closes border to Ukraine over coup claim. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57702516

• RFI / AFP: Lukashenko claims Western-linked 'terrorist sleeper cells' exposed in Belarus. https://www.rfi.fr/en/lukashenko-claims-western-linked-terrorist-sleeper-cells-exposed-in-belarus

• EUvsDisinfo: US, Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania support sleeper cells in Belarus. https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/us-germany-poland-ukraine-and-lithuania-support-sleeper-cells-in-belarus

• EUAA: COI Report - Belarus: Political Opposition and Dissent, May 2026. https://www.euaa.europa.eu/publications/coi-report-belorus-political-opposition-and-dissent

• OHCHR: Belarus: UN experts raise alarm over treatment of political prisoners, urge medical intervention. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/06/belarus-un-experts-raise-alarm-over-treatment-political-prisoners-urge

• Human Rights Watch: World Report 2026: Belarus. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2026/country-chapters/belarus

Corrections and updates

No corrections at publication time. If verifiable court documents, independent expert review or officially published evidence appears, this article should be updated with the new information.