Keynote
The first comprehensive book about
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the politician
who had the courage to oppose Alexander
Lukashenko’s dictatorship.
Selling Points
 A thoroughgoing portrait of one
of the most extraordinary people in
European politics.
 The story of a woman who suddenly
found herself immersed in politics and had
to learn everything from scratch.
 A book about Belarus – one of the last
dictatorships on the planet.
 A penetrating examination of Belarusian
history over the last 20 years.
 A reportage key to understanding
Eastern Europe’s most recent history.
 The author is himself a dissident fighting
for a free and democratic Belarus.
 Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has given
the author exclusive authorisation for
the book.
Description
Almost from one day to the next
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya became one
of the most important politicians in
Europe. When her husband was arrested
by Lukashenko’s regime, she decided
without hesitation to challenge the brutal
dictator. Unofficial data suggest that she

although the results were rigged in
favour of Lukashenko. From that time
onwards she has had to live in exile, and
is treated by the democratic West as
the real head of state. This book by Ruslan
Shoshin, a journalist from the opposition
underground, is the first comprehensive
and honest story of this remarkable
individual – about her sudden appearance
in politics, about the phenomenon of
her popularity and her strategy for
bringing independence to Belarus. It is
no hagiography, however; the author
closely examines her decisions and points
out the errors she has committed while
carrying out that incredibly difficult
task. A moving book about the fight for
democracy and the price that has to be
paid for it.
Target Market
Readers of historical literature.
People interested in contemporary politics,
specifically in Eastern Europe.