Lithuania-Belarus Detention: A Lithuanian businessman was detained in Belarus in June and is accused of supplying defective products to Russia and Belarus, with Lithuania’s embassy informed via the foreign ministry. Religious Freedom Crackdown: Belarus-linked criminal cases have been launched against religious freedom defenders living abroad, including Protestant Sergiy Melyanets and Orthodox Natallia Vasilevich, with Forum 18 reporting refusals to explain charges. Border Security Push: Ukraine’s government draft plan calls for faster border fortification work, shelter checks, and creation of four new National Guard combat units—while Latvia’s president again raised concerns about border guard shortages and possible crossing closures with Belarus. EU Sanctions Tighten: Eight non-EU countries agreed to align with the EU’s latest Belarus sanctions, expanding restrictions on military-tech goods and crypto-asset services. Fuel Pressure Spillover: Russia’s worsening gasoline crisis is driving arrests and fines for people who publicly complain, underscoring how shortages can become a political risk. Belarus Defense Industry: Belarusian state-linked reporting says a fully domestically made VSK-100B assault rifle prototype was shown to Lukashenko with messaging focused on “peace” and “confidence.” Economy Watch: Belarus local budgets ran a surplus in January–July, with revenues up and spending rising on education, healthcare, and social policy.