Alexander, a renowned Belarusian political scientist and literary scholar, was previously a member of Lukashenko's campaign team and briefly served in his administration after his victory. He subsequently resigned and became one of the most vocal critics of the first Belarusian president.
On April 12, 2021, he was arrested in Moscow and later extradited. He was charged with "conspiracy or other actions committed with the intent to seize state power." In September 2022, he was sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
On December 13, 2025, he was released after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole, and taken to Ukraine.
