Since its August 9, 2020 presidential election, Belarus has become the epicenter of a regional clash over how democracy and rule of law should apply to everyday life. Hardliner Alyaksandr Lukashenka, in power since 1994, claims he defeated civil-rights advocate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya to be reelected president. But, amidst reports of rampant electoral fraud, human-rights abuses, and brutal crackdowns on critics, much of Belarus and the international community reject that claim.