Latvia ia nowadays a boring western country - EU, euro, NATO, IKEA, rising housing costs, bitching about our democratically elected government, the works.

Belarus is run by a dictator whose wet dream is to run a combined Belarus-Russia country. Even huge mass action by the population three years ago after the last sham election didn't manage to depose him. During the protests getting anally raped using a police baton, or beaten to death in police custody was a very real threat.

I'm sure the people of Belarus will eventually achieve their freedom. And then they won't let another strongman anywhere near the government.