"I was convinced that my candidacy would be rejected", declared Belarusian presidential 
She took over from her husband, opponent Sergei Tikhanovsky, who was arrested on May 29. She says waking up in the morning now, "with fear in her stomach".
Brest, Aug. 2.– Svetlana Tsikhanovskaïa, 37, is the surprise candidate for the Belarusian presidential election on August 9. She arouses a vast momentum of mobilization around her. More than 60,000 people came to a rally on Thursday in Minsk. A discreet stay-at-home mother, former translator, she took over from her husband, blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, arrested on May 29. All the opposition, including the Nobel Prize for Literature Svetlana Alexievich , lined up behind her.
How did you make the decision to run for president?
"It was a quick decision, taken in just a few hours. I had no idea what to do, since my husband was in prison and his application was rejected. I haven't told anyone about it, not even my husband. I have asked people to collect the necessary documents. It was my heart that pushed me there. It is not at all a courageous decision, I was not afraid. Besides, I was convinced that my application would also be rejected."
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