Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski describes the purges committed by Stalin’s dictatorship in Belarus under Soviet rule. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus’ brief experience with democracy was cut short when President Alexander Lukashenko came to power.Bialiatski explains how Lukashenko’s government slowly turned toward authoritarianism—using violence against protestors, closing down human rights organizations, and banning independent media outlets. Despite the brutal repression that Belarusians face, Bialiatski expresses hope that the younger generation, bolstered by support from the international community, will transform his country into a free and democratic society.