1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 In this provocative Flashback Friday episode of&amp;nbsp;The Radio Vagabond, I travel to Belarus – often called “Europe’s last dictatorship” – to uncover the lived reality of life under Alexander Lukashenko. As I meet locals and explore Minsk, I ask a bold question: are there bright sides to this autocratic system? Some people credit the regime with preserving economic stability post-USSR, keeping unemployment low and averting the oligarchic chaos seen elsewhere.&amp;nbsp;They say limited online freedoms – like the ability to access opposition sites – create an illusion of choice. But the darker truth sits just beneath the surface. Lukashenko’s heavy censorship, the criminalization of dissent – even for wearing “wrong” socks – and the ongoing use of capital punishment paint a grim picture. This episode digs into these contradictions. I speak with people benefiting from economic predictability, then confront the chilling reality of repression and human rights abuses. It’s a travel story that challenges assumptions – and raises uncomfortable questions. See pictures and read more on&amp;nbsp;https://www.theradiovagabond.com/182-belarus/ This Flashback Friday episode was first released on May 10, 2021. The Radio Vagabond http://www.theradiovagabond.com/ <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37286815/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/190422870