The Accidental President

A person sits at a desk with a laptop, covering their face with both hands in a gesture of stress or fatigue. The laptop has a sticker resembling the Belarus flag and rests on a black carrying case. Nearby are a glass of water, a red notebook, and scatter

The Accidental President follows the incredible but true story of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an ordinary housewife from Belarus who was thrust onto the international political stage when her husband was arrested for daring to challenge Alexander Lukashenko for the presidency.

With her husband a political prisoner, Sviatlana courageously stepped forward and won the popular vote – but was robbed of her democratic victory by Lukashenko’s dictatorial hand on power. Unbowed by deadly threats from her powerful political rival and the KGB, Sviatlana became a beacon of hope for change in her country.

The film will be introduced by Ewa Bachminska, Senior Lecturer of Polish at Cornell.

Part of our "Doc Spots" series. In English, Belarusian, Russian with English subtitles. Courtesy of Roast Beef Productions.