Nine months ago, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was still an English teacher and a housewife caring for her two children, but today, the 38-year-old is Belarus’ symbol of democracy and one of the world’s 100 most influential women of 2020 by the BBC.

Speaking to Apple Daily from a small office in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she is now in exile, the former presidential candidate traces her unlikely political career, her launch into fame and the similarities between Belarus and Hong Kong.

Tikhanovskaya has been actively lobbying for international support and foreign sanctions on the dictatorship back home after she was forced into exile in August. In fact, she has just returned from a meeting with Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna the night before – the latest international leader after German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne.

Her accidental venture into politics began last year, when her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky started a YouTube channel named “Country for Life.” Through telling the stories of ordinary citizens and the problems they face, it reveals the harsh treatment in state factories and speaks out against President Alexander Lukashenko, who has stayed in power in the post-Soviet country for 26 years.

His channel went viral, gaining more than 230,000 subscribers in a year, 12 times that of the state media. Encouraged by the response, the activist and YouTuber announced his presidential run in May, only to be disqualified and arrested.

That was when the housewife with no political experience stepped into the spotlight, took the place of her husband and registered to be a candidate. “I felt that I have made the most serious decision and maybe the most stupid decision in my life at that moment,” she recalls. “I wasn’t ready, but my people helped me to stay in the fight and continue this revolution.”

“Running in an election in this country is like a bug in front of a bulldozer,” says the dissident, who was well-aware of the risk and sent her children away. She and her team received threats. Following the groundless arrest of some members, she had to stay in a safe house in Minsk until the election.

Way ahead of Lukashenko in the election polls, Tikhanovskaya’s campaign attracted record-breaking rallies and offered a sense of hope to her supporters. “I want my country to become one that is democratic, free and safe, where our people can have the right to stay, to speak, to clap, to choose their future.” Her vision was mocked by the strongman president with sexist remarks, claiming openly that Belarusian constitution is not suitable for women and society is not mature enough to vote for a woman.

Their hope to oust Europe’s last dictator was shattered in August, when election results showed that the autocratic president won with 80.1% of the votes. Huge numbers of protesters flooded the streets and workers across the country went on strike, accusing the leader of stealing the election.

The regime tried to silence the angry crowds with increasingly bloody crackdown, but protesters were resilient. “Everything the authorities have is violence,” she slams. “Instead of having a dialogue with the people, instead of solving this political crisis, they beat people up, detained and tortured people in jail.”

In the face of political persecution, Tikhanovskaya was forced to flee and continued her fight overseas. Lithuania became the first state to recognize Tikhanovskaya as the leader elected by Belarusians and provided assistance. She then established the headquarters of the Coordination Council in Vilnius, which is now staffed by other exiled scholars and intellectuals, to ensure a transfer of power.

Meanwhile, her husband remains behind bars over allegations of organizing group actions that violate public order and obstructing the work of the Central Election Commission. His detention was recently extended for three extra months after the authorities added another charge of inciting hatred.

Despite her growing influence, Tikhonovskaya insists that she is only a leader elected by Belarusians, and not the opposition leader or the president. “It is the Belarusians who authorize me to speak on behalf of our country,” she says.

The exile, she believes, is only temporary and she does not worry that people would lose their identity after they flee abroad. As for now, she continues to lobby different leaders to stand with Belarus and prepare for the interim government when the dictatorship topples.

The cabinet on exile often cite Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement as an example of people standing against an authoritarian regime. Franak Viacorka, an advisor, often tweets about the similarities between the values and demands of the protesters in Hong Kong and Belarus, as well as the concept of “be water.”

“We can help each other by showing solidarity, by walking with each other,” says Tikhonovskaya, who voiced her support to the 12 Hong Kong protesters detained in China in August. “We are fighting and we can be inspirations to each other.”

“I don’t accept the idea that ‘Belarus will not change.’ Sooner or later, and I am sure the change will happen very soon.” She urges Hongkongers to keep their faith strong despite hardships and persecution. “If you know that you are right, don’t step away. Do what you have to do. Because only when you believe, only when you are united, can you have at least the opportunity to win your fight.”

“The regime can displace us, but we can never surrender. We must keep on fighting and one day, we can open the door to our home again,” says Tikhonovskaya.

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