Famous Belarusian Leaders

Alexander Lukashenko has served as the first and only president of Belarus since July 20, 1994. He is said to be an authoritarian leader and elections are not considered to be free and fair under him, including the 2020 Belarusian presidential election. The European Union and the United States have many times imposed sanctions on Lukashenko for human rights violations.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is a Belarusian educator and politician. Best known as the leader of the democratic movement in Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya ran in the presidential elections in 2020. Since August 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has been living in exile in Poland. She has been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for leading non-violent challenges against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Bolshevik revolutionary Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, also known as Iron Felix, was born into a Polish noble family. Though Lenin considered him a hero, he often disagreed with Lenin’s views. He had been the director of Cheka. He died of a heart attack after finishing a 2-hour speech.

Son of a Belarusian farmer, Andrei Gromyko grew up studying agriculture. He had already started delivering anti-religious speeches by 13 and later joined the Communist Party. He later served as the Soviet foreign minister and then the head of state, becoming popular as Mr. Nyet for vetoing UN proposals often.

Ivonka Survilla is a Belarusian political figure and the current president of the Belarusian government in exile, the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. In 2013, she was honored with the Canadian Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her efforts to restore democracy in Belarus. Survilla has also co-founded a charitable organization called Canadian Relief Fund for Chernobyl Victims in Belarus.

Hanna Kanapatskaya is a Belarusian politician, lawyer, entrepreneur, and former MP. She achieved popularity in 2020 when she ran in the presidential elections. Hanna Kanapatskaya is also popular for leading a political campaign that condemns the Russian interference in the political affairs of Belarus.

Tatsiana Karatkevich is a Belarusian politician best known for her participation in the 2015 presidential election where she competed as a candidate. Tatsiana Karatkevich is also known as one of the most important members of a civic campaign called Tell the Truth.

Moisey Ostrogorsky was a Russian politician, historian, political scientist, sociologist, and jurist. Along with Robert Michels and Max Weber, Ostrogorsky is regarded as a co-founder of political sociology. Moisey Ostrogorsky is also remembered for his immense contribution as a writer; many of his works on history and political science continue to be cherished.

Natalya Kochanova is a Belarusian politician who has been serving as the Speaker of the Council of the Republic of Belarus since 6 December 2019. Natalya Kochanova played an important role during the 2020 presidential elections, serving as the Chief of Staff for Alexander Lukashenko's election campaign.

Lidia Yermoshina is a Belarusian politician who served as Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus from 6 December 1996 to 13 December 2021. In 2006, Yermoshina and many other Belarusian politicians were banned from entering the USA and the EU for allegedly manipulating the results of the 2006 presidential election in Belarus; the ban was lifted in 2008.

Sergey Sidorsky is a Belarusian politician who served as the prime minister of Belarus from 2004 to 2010. After starting his career as an electrician, Sidorsky went on to establish himself as a prominent political figure in Belarus. Sergey Sidorsky is also credited with authoring over 40 monographs and scientific publications.

Alena Anisim is a Belarusian politician, linguist, and member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. Since 2017, Alena Anisim has been serving as the chairperson of an association called the Francišak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society. 

Franciszek Ksawery Drucki-Lubecki was a Polish politician, diplomat, and freemason. An important political figure, Franciszek served in the Congress Poland as the minister of the treasury. Under his influence, the city of Łódź became a prominent textile center. Franciszek Ksawery Drucki-Lubecki is also credited with reforming the ironworks and mining industries of Congress Poland.

Natalia Petkevich is a Belarusian politician best known for her service as the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus from 9 January 2009 to 28 December 2010. Nicknamed the Iron Lady of Belarus, Natalia Petkevich has been regarded as a potential heir to President Alexander Lukashenko.

Nadezhda Grekova was a Soviet Belarusian politician best remembered for her service as the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus from July 25, 1938 to March 12, 1949. In 2002, a public park in the city of Minsk was named in her honor. Nadezhda Grekova also has a museum dedicated to her in Belarus.