The husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has been unexpectedly released from prison in Belarus, along with other political prisoners. Sergei Tikhanovsky has been moved to Lithuania and has been being reunited with his wife who lives in exile in the capital Vilnius. It is understood at least 10 prisoners have been released in total, including the former RFE journalist Ihar Karnei. The sudden release came as US special envoy Keith Kellogg visited Minsk on Saturday and held a meeting with Authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Footage on social media shared by Tikhanovskaya's representatives show the couple smiling and hugging and Tikhanovsky appears to have lost a lot of weight in custody. "My husband … is free! It's hard to describe the joy in my heart," Tikhanovskaya wrote on X. Thanking Donald Trump, Kellogg and "all European allies" for their efforts to get her husband released, she added: "We're not done. 1150 political prisoners remain behind bars. All must be released." The other released prisoners include five Belarusian nationals and Japanese, Polish and Swedish citizens, according to Tikhanovskaya's office. In a statement on X, the Lithuanian foreign minister said the 14 political prisoners were receiving care in Lithuania. Maria Kolesnikova, one of the best known opposition leaders who was jailed after the mass protests of 2020, is still in prison, her sister confirmed. Tikhanovskaya stood in the August 2020 elections after her husband, former blogger and presidential candidate Tikhanovsky, was taken into custody. He was jailed for 18 years in 2021. His wife ran in his place and claimed victory in the polls, which were widely thought to be rigged by supporters of Lukashenko, but she wasforced into exilewith her children the day after the vote. She has since led efforts to resist Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians are estimated to have left their country since the brutal crackdown on widespread opposition protests in 2020. Tens of thousands of people have been arrested in the country in the past five years for political reasons, according to human rights group Viasna.
Belarus opposition leader's husband freed from prison
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Sergei Tikhanovsky, husband of Belarus opposition leader, released from prison"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
The unexpected release of Sergei Tikhanovsky, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, marks a significant development in the ongoing struggle for democracy in Belarus. Tikhanovsky was released from prison alongside at least ten other political prisoners and has since been reunited with his wife in Lithuania, where she has been living in exile. The release coincided with a visit from U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg to Minsk, where he met with the authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Tikhanovskaya expressed her overwhelming joy on social media, sharing footage of the emotional reunion and acknowledging the support from international allies, including Donald Trump and Kellogg. Despite the joyous occasion, she emphasized that the fight for freedom continues, as approximately 1,150 political prisoners still remain incarcerated in Belarusian jails. The other released individuals include both Belarusian nationals and foreign citizens from Japan, Poland, and Sweden, highlighting the international dimension of the political crisis in Belarus.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's political journey began after her husband was arrested during the 2020 presidential campaign, where he was a prominent candidate. Following his imprisonment, Tikhanovskaya ran in his place and claimed victory in an election widely regarded as fraudulent. Her leadership has been pivotal in resisting Lukashenko’s regime, which has maintained a tight grip on power since 1994. The aftermath of the 2020 protests has seen a mass exodus of Belarusians, with hundreds of thousands leaving the country and tens of thousands arrested for political dissent, according to the human rights organization Viasna. This recent development raises hope for the opposition movement, yet the continued imprisonment of other key figures, such as Maria Kolesnikova, underscores the ongoing repression faced by dissenters in Belarus. Tikhanovskaya's commitment to advocating for the release of all political prisoners remains steadfast as she continues to rally support for her cause both domestically and internationally.
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