In a heartfelt press conference after his unexpected release, Belarusian opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky made a poignant appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump to advocate for the freedom of political prisoners still detained in Belarus. Tikhanovsky, who endured five harrowing years in solitary confinement after being imprisoned in 2020 for his dissent against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, shed tears as he recounted the inhumane conditions he faced while calling for global support to liberate those still behind bars. His wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who took up the mantle of opposition leadership during his imprisonment, stood beside him, emphasizing the urgent need for action against the repression in Belarus.
Belarus Opposition Leader's Husband Calls on Trump to Advocate for Political Prisoners
Belarus Opposition Leader's Husband Calls on Trump to Advocate for Political Prisoners
Sergei Tikhanovsky, released from Belarusian prison, urges U.S. President Trump to speak out for the freedom of political prisoners.
Tikhanovsky, recently reunited with his wife after his release and the release of thirteen other political prisoners, expressed an emotional plea for the cessation of inhumane treatment in Belarusian prisons. The unexpected release coincided with a pivotal visit from U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg to Minsk, marking a significant moment in U.S.-Belarusian relations. During the press conference, Tikhanovsky vividly recounted the severe isolation he endured, devoid of any communication or basic necessities, and urgently called for the release of the over 1,000 political prisoners who remain incarcerated.
During the press event, he praised his wife as his "personal hero," who had faced tremendous challenges of her own during his imprisonment, including their daughter's struggle to recognize her father due to his drastic physical transformation. Tikhanovsky clarified that he does not seek to reclaim leadership within the opposition, asserting that his wife remains the leader of the movement, and he encourages Belarusians to rise against the regime. His narrative serves as a reminder of the ongoing political repression in Belarus, where thousands have faced arrests and exile in the wake of protests against Lukashenko's government.
During the press event, he praised his wife as his "personal hero," who had faced tremendous challenges of her own during his imprisonment, including their daughter's struggle to recognize her father due to his drastic physical transformation. Tikhanovsky clarified that he does not seek to reclaim leadership within the opposition, asserting that his wife remains the leader of the movement, and he encourages Belarusians to rise against the regime. His narrative serves as a reminder of the ongoing political repression in Belarus, where thousands have faced arrests and exile in the wake of protests against Lukashenko's government.
