Everything took off in May for Svetlana Tichanovskaya, when her husband Sergei was arrested. He had intended to run for president, but the request to run was rejected and he was arrested instead.

Svetlana thought carefully, but eventually decided to run instead of her husband.

- It's mixed feelings. For the most part, though, I'm happy. Now I can fight for my husband and for people in Belarus, she said then.

She quickly gained great support, and more and more people began to dare to show their dissatisfaction with the Lukashenko regime.

Female trio in front of opposition struggle

During her campaign, she has had Veronika Tsepkalo, married to opposition politician Valery Tsepkalo, who fled to Russia earlier this summer. As campaign manager, Svetlana has had Maria Kolesnikova, who previously worked for another opposition politician, Viktar Babryka. Babaryka was arrested in June on suspicion of money laundering and tax offenses, but the charges have been questioned by many. 

After the election, which was painted by the outside world as settled, Svetlana fled to Lithuania because she was worried about the safety of her children. From there, she sends a call to the heads of state of the world:

- Do not acknowledge the results of this rigged election.