On 9 August 2020, Aleksandr Lukashenka unleashed a massive reprisal against thousands of Belarusians who dared to stand up against his decades-long rule, marching in unprecedented, peaceful mass protests. Despite massive repression and violence, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians demonstrated to demand free and fair elections. This public uprising was a true shock for Lukashenka. After five years, he continues to be haunted by the ‘nightmare’ of the 2020 protests. Already then, it was obvious