Belarus Opposition Strategy Post-Assad (legrandcontinent.eu)

• Dictatorships rely on fear, which evaporates quickly during systemic crises.
• Russian troop and nuclear withdrawal is a prerequisite for Belarusian freedom.
• Belarus must not be sacrificed as a 'consolation prize' in Ukraine-related negotiations.

"Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya analyzes the rapid collapse of the Assad regime as a warning for Alyaksandr Lukashenka, emphasizing that dictators lack loyal allies when they lose utility. She argues that Moscow’s inability to save Assad demonstrates Russia's overextension. Tsikhanouskaya advocates for the total withdrawal of Russian troops and nuclear weapons from Belarus, stressing that regional security requires a free Belarus. She calls for sustained international pressure, rejecting the idea of Belarus becoming a bargaining chip in Ukraine peace talks, and urges democratic nations to prepare for a sudden shift in the political landscape."