3 June 2016 marked exactly 100 days since the EU lifted its sanctions against Belarus. This measure appeared to be a response to the authoritarian state’s apparent liberalisation course. However, our analysis showed that pressure on civil society had actually increased. A 100-day monitoring exercise revealed that everyday repression had not decreased but had simply become less visible. Our findings contradicted the EU’s more open stance towards the country, which has been ruled by Aliaksandr Lukashenka since 1994.