Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a prominent opposition leader and wife of a jailed activist, emerged as the face of Belarus's pro-democracy movement in 2020. After her husband's arrest, she campaigned for the presidency against long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko, attracting massive crowds and challenging his authoritarian rule. Despite facing intimidation and threats, she refused to back down, galvanizing Belarusians to take to the streets in unprecedented protests demanding change. While she ultimately lost the election amidst allegations of fraud, Tsikhanouskaya's brave stance and unwavering commitment to democracy made her a symbol of resistance against Lukashenko's regime, inspiring Belarusians to continue their fight for freedom and democratic rights.
