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Tatiana KorotkevichBelarusian psychologist, public and political figure
Date of Birth: 08.03.1977
Country:  Belarus |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Professional Career
- Sports and Hobbies
- Political Activism
- 2012 Parliamentary Election
- 2015 Presidential Election
- Political Views
- Amending the Constitution to limit the president to two terms
- Social and Foreign Policies
- Public Opinion and Analysis
Tatiana Korotkevich: A Trailblazing Psychologist, Activist, and Belarusian Presidential Candidate
Early Life and Education
Tatiana Korotkevich was born on March 8, 1977, in Minsk, Belarus. She graduated from the Faculty of Psychology at Belarusian State Pedagogical University, where she taught psychology for 11 years. Korotkevich also holds a Master's degree in Psychology from Belarusian State University.
Professional Career
After teaching at universities, Korotkevich became head of the Department of Social Adaptation and Rehabilitation at the Territorial Center of Social Protection of the Population in Minsk. Subsequently, she directed the social institution "Family Platform."
Sports and Hobbies
Korotkevich is an avid cyclist and was once part of the USSR youth team. She also enjoys swimming, CrossFit, and traveling. Additionally, she has a keen interest in studying folk traditions.
Political Activism
Korotkevich began her socio-political activism in 1999. She is a member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada). Since 2010, she has actively participated in the "Talk Truth" campaign. Notably, she has been involved in initiatives such as helping residents oppose construction projects in Minsk, collecting signatures to name a street and a metro station after the writer Vasil Bykov, and supporting the "National Referendum" campaign.
2012 Parliamentary Election
In 2012, Korotkevich ran for parliament in the Kavalersky constituency in Minsk but was unsuccessful.
2015 Presidential Election
In 2015, the opposition coalition "National Referendum," which included the "Talk Truth" campaign, the "For Freedom" movement, the BNF Party, and the Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Hramada," nominated Korotkevich as their presidential candidate. She gained widespread support in online polls within the opposition. Korotkevich collected 110,000 signatures in support of her bid.
Despite the BNF Party withdrawing its support after the end of the signature-gathering campaign, Korotkevich was officially registered as a presidential candidate by the Central Electoral Commission on September 10, 2015. She became the first female presidential candidate in Belarusian history.
In the election held on October 11, 2015, Korotkevich received 4.44% of the vote, placing second to incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko.
Political Views
Korotkevich's campaign slogan was "For Peaceful Change." She advocated for:
Amending the Constitution to limit the president to two terms
Holding local electionsEconomic Policies
Korotkevich proposed the following economic reforms:
Creating a favorable environment for all business initiatives
Addressing the issue of inefficient enterprises
Controlling inflation
Strengthening labor unions and supporting workers' rights
Promoting private property, especially small and medium businesses
Increasing unemployment benefits
Attracting investment and streamlining business regulations
Developing regional economies and supporting agriculture
Gradually transitioning to a funded pension system
Preserving strategic enterprises and the military-industrial complex under state ownership
Social and Foreign Policies
In the social sphere, Korotkevich advocated for healthcare and education reforms and the establishment of a robust social safety net. She believed in an independent foreign policy, maintaining good relations with all neighbors, and opposing Belarus' nuclear status. Korotkevich supported retaining the official status of both Belarusian and Russian languages and considered the white-red-white flag and the "Pahonia" coat of arms as symbols of Belarusian national identity.
Public Opinion and Analysis
The Chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission, Lidia Yermoshina, praised women's participation in the election, including Korotkevich. Political analyst Pavel Usov, however, expressed concerns that Korotkevich's son could be used as leverage against her by authorities. Other analysts suggested that her electoral strategy aimed to appeal to undecided voters.
