

You can manipulate statistics in many ways. No totalitarian regime, dictator, or similar system is required for that. Russia and China can currently be considered extreme examples. However, another user below has provided Chinese sources claiming that everything is fine in China. I’ll leave it to you to decide whether you consider those sources trustworthy.
I spent part of my youth living in a country under an authoritarian regime. Crime was very rare, and people generally wanted nothing to do with the security services, especially not with the prison system. Women could walk alone at night with little fear for their safety. Of course, incidents still occurred, but the perpetrators often faced severe consequences. In some cases, a man who beat his wife end up being beaten up by the police - know such cases.
Does that sound like a dream? In some respects, life was not that bad. In others, it was quite the opposite. Why? Because corruption and oppression were also very real possibilities and if you made perhaps rightfully some troubles it could be a tough life for you then, but that is another topic.


He says it because Russia has problems in the war since month. According to news since few weeks Ukraine is not only holding ground, but also regaining certain parts. Considering also the problematic economic situation in Russia, it is now not the time to join. Believe me, this guy would have said differently when Russia would be on a victor path. Lukashenko is a weasel and an opportunist.