The dictator next door
published in six languages in the European Magazine Cafebabel.com on January 5th, 2012 >> and shortlisted for the CEE Journalism Prize („Writing for Central and Eastern Europe“) 2012 >>
Belarus is Europe’s last dictatorship, but the Lithuanian capital Vilnius is located close to the border. Belarusian human rights campaigners use Vilnius as an asylum and distribution centre – yet they don’t feel completely safe. The Lithuanian president keeps up a good relationship with the Belarusian despot.