The future of democracy seems uncertain. Leading democracies appear unable to tackle some of the world's most pressing environmental, political, and social problems. Every day brings more examples of unbridgeable political polarization, rising populist movements, and democracies around the world seemingly in retreat. Meanwhile autocratic systems continue to find new ways to advance illiberal alternatives to democracy.

Nevertheless around the world, on every continent, people continue to risk their lives and freedom for democracy. In Belarus in 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya seemingly won the presidential election only to be kept from power by the country’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenka. Hundreds of thousands of people came out to protest – nearly all for the first time – against the fraudulent elections. Belarus’ autocratic regime violently cracked down: tens of thousands of peaceful protesters were arrested and subjected to abuse in custody; over 1,400 political prisoners are still behind bars.

In the four years since the elections, Lukashenka’s regime has moved closer to Putin’s Russia and sought to undermine European democracies to the west. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues to lead the opposition from outside the country as the movement works to advance a democratic transition in Belarus, protect human rights, and secure freedom for political prisoners.

In a year that will see more people head to the polls than ever before, Perry World House is proud to welcome Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to discuss why democracy is still worth fighting for.

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