Rights groups, activists and independent media in Russia and Belarus endured increased government scrutiny, repressive laws and even were shut down and forced to operate from exile abroad.

A few decades back, a decreasing number of countries were given taints of autocracies and dictatorship (even though many were under undemocratic monarchies).

A project manager in Belarus's once-flourishing tech industry, Andrei Dorin admits his sector is in "crisis". Tech has been ...