Svetlana Tikhonovskaya believes that the repression that continues show that Lukashenko and his associates are afraid.
“The trauma of 2020 is still alive, and it must eliminate any possibility of the uprising,” the oppositionist says.
“He knows that Belarusians did not accept him or forgive him, and they still want change.”
But she admits that there are few features in the short term.
For some time after Russia’s full -scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarusians hoped that their neighbors would be able to defeat Putin with the help of the West and that Lukashenko would follow him.
Some headed for the front line, choosing force after their peaceful protests failed.
But the Ukrainian military is now difficult to hold, and President Donald Trump insists on peace talks.
“The democratic world cannot make concessions to Putin,” Tikhonovskaya says, calling Lukashenko no less dangerous to the world.
It allowed Russia to launch rockets in Ukraine from Belarus and pass its tanks through its territory.
It also allowed the free stream of migrants to the Polish border and the EU.
“It allows Putin to deploy nuclear weapons and his army in Belarus, and in Poland and Lithuania a very short way,” Tikhonovskaya emphasizes.
“He and Putin are a couple, and they support other dictators. He is part of this evil chain. “
There is no doubt that Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s Sunday’s restoration will be held according to his plans.
“These are very capable people,” explains the former political prisoner.
“They really destroyed the potential of protest.”
Now she is trying to return to her profession of vet, but in Poland, and recover after three heavy years behind bars.
Those with whom I talked to now consider Lukashenko to retire or, after all, the death of my greatest hope to see democracy.
Meanwhile, many change attention: a splash of interest in the revival of Belarusian culture and language, the opposition. This is the most they dare to in such circumstances.
“Nobody says openly about it, but we feel there are no prospects. Depression, ”Natalia admits.
But there are no obvious regrets, even in this case.
Svetlana Tikhonovskaya’s life changed dramatically after she rushed into politics.
Torn from her country, her husband is also a political prisoner – almost two years was kept in full isolation.
The opposition leader insists that he still “honestly believes” in change.
“2020 became a huge shift in the mentality in Belarus. I don’t know how much time it will take, but this shift will not disappear. “
