Sergei Tikhanovsky, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, made a heartfelt plea to U.S. President Donald Trump for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus following his own unexpected release after five years of solitary confinement. This appeal coincides with significant diplomatic movements, including a visit from U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg to Belarus.
**Belarus Opposition Leader's Husband Appeals to Trump for Political Prisoners' Release**
**Belarus Opposition Leader's Husband Appeals to Trump for Political Prisoners' Release**
Sergei Tikhanovsky, released Belarusian opposition leader, calls on the U.S. President to aid in freeing political prisoners.
In an emotional press conference held in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sergei Tikhanovsky described the harsh conditions he faced while imprisoned, stating he was kept in isolation without any contact with the outside world, not even receiving letters or phone calls. His release came after thirteen other prisoners were also freed and sent into exile. Tikhanovsky, who was arrested in 2020 while planning to oppose President Alexander Lukashenko in the elections, urged Trump to utilize his influence to advocate for more than a thousand political prisoners still incarcerated in Belarus.
Tearfully recalling his ordeal, Tikhanovsky labeled the treatment he endured as torture and called for an end to such inhumane practices by the Belarusian regime. He expressed his gratitude for his release but emphasized the need for further actions to liberate others, invoking Trump's perceived capabilities as a political leader.
His wife, Tikhanovskaya, echoed his sentiments, expressing pride in her husband's resilience while also revealing the emotional impact of his imprisonment on their family, notably how their daughter struggled to recognize him after his long absence. She criticized the Belarusian government's perceived diplomatic gains from the U.S. while reiterating that their primary objective remains the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
As the sentiment for change grows among the Belarusian public, Tikhanovsky reinstated his support for his wife's leadership of the opposition, insisting his role is supportive rather than seeking her position. He resurfaced as a symbol of resilience, urging Belarusians to unite against the Lukashenko regime.
The recent developments reflect both a desperate plea for humanitarian action and an assertion of opposition strength in a country marked by political repression and an ongoing struggle for democratic freedoms.
Tearfully recalling his ordeal, Tikhanovsky labeled the treatment he endured as torture and called for an end to such inhumane practices by the Belarusian regime. He expressed his gratitude for his release but emphasized the need for further actions to liberate others, invoking Trump's perceived capabilities as a political leader.
His wife, Tikhanovskaya, echoed his sentiments, expressing pride in her husband's resilience while also revealing the emotional impact of his imprisonment on their family, notably how their daughter struggled to recognize him after his long absence. She criticized the Belarusian government's perceived diplomatic gains from the U.S. while reiterating that their primary objective remains the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
As the sentiment for change grows among the Belarusian public, Tikhanovsky reinstated his support for his wife's leadership of the opposition, insisting his role is supportive rather than seeking her position. He resurfaced as a symbol of resilience, urging Belarusians to unite against the Lukashenko regime.
The recent developments reflect both a desperate plea for humanitarian action and an assertion of opposition strength in a country marked by political repression and an ongoing struggle for democratic freedoms.
