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Report nowWhen autocrats take to the ice, it's rarely about faith, but about power. Religious rituals become a political stage - cold, calculated and effectively staged.
The Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko dives into the ice-cold water for the Orthodox Epiphany - the video is distributed by his own press office.
Religious rituals stand for humility, purification and community. But when political leaders celebrate them in public, they take on a second level. Images, gestures and symbols are used in a targeted manner - not only for faith, but also for the camera.
On the Orthodox feast of the Epiphany, believers step into the freezing cold water. For many, it is a silent act of faith. For others, the ritual becomes a stage.
The video shows where religious tradition ends - and political message begins.
