The Rest Is Politics: Leading 174. Taking On Europe's Last Dictator: The Fight Against Lukashenko and Putin
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Feb 6, 2026 
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian opposition leader who formed a government in exile after the 2020 protests, tells how she was thrust from housewife into politics. She discusses Lukashenko’s grip on power and ties to Russia. She describes building institutions abroad, the stakes of Ukraine’s fight for Belarus, and plans to steer Belarus toward Europe and democratic elections.
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Unexpected Rise To Leadership
- Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya describes becoming a candidate after her husband was jailed and overcoming fear to lead a mass campaign.
- She learned diplomacy on the job, meeting foreign leaders and building an exile movement from scratch.
How Lukashenko Sustained His Regime
- Tsikhanouskaya argues Lukashenko built power through corruption, fear and a personal military apparatus.
- She says he is proud to be "the last dictator of Europe" and systematically rejects European values.
Building A Movement Without A State
- Despite exile and limited resources, Tsikhanouskaya says Belarus built alternative institutions and international ties.
- She credits rediscovering Belarusian identity and formal relations with the EU, US, UK and Canada for keeping the movement alive.