How Athletes Are Defending Democracy In Belarus

Dictatorships often use professional sports to cover up their crimes and establish international legitimacy. In Belarus, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko is particularly invested in Ice Hockey as a means of promoting his regime. However, in January Belarusians convinced the International Ice Hockey Federation to cancel the Ice Hockey World Championships in Minsk in order to prevent Lukashenko from using the event to distract from human rights violations. HRF’s Alexander Sikorski speaks to Anatoly Kotov of the Belarus Sports Solidarity Foundation about how athletics are used by authoritarian regimes, why Belarusians pressured the IIHF and other international sporting bodies to boycott sports events in Belarus, and how Belarusian athletes have stood up for freedom and democracy in Belarus.

Om Podcasten

“Dissidents and Dictators” is a podcast dedicated to bringing listeners stories and analysis from those on the frontlines of the fight for democracy. Hosted by Casey Michel and Elisha Maldonado, the podcast features democracy campaigners, investigative journalists, artists, musicians, scholars, and many more targeted by authoritarian regimes around the world. Guests share their personal histories and how they’ve dedicated themselves to standing up to dictatorship. Mixing news, commentary, and humor, the podcast provides impactful, unflinching conversations from those who’ve sacrificed everything to spread democracy — and who want to share their story with the rest of us.