In a heartfelt press conference after his release from prison, Sergei Tikhanovsky, husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, urged President Trump to intervene for the release of over 1,000 political prisoners still imprisoned in Belarus. This call for action comes amidst a backdrop of increasing international scrutiny and a recent high-profile visit by a US envoy 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 calls on President Trump to advocate for over 1,000 political prisoners in Belarus following his own unexpected release from solitary confinement.
In an emotional plea, Sergei Tikhanovsky, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, has urged US President Donald Trump to advocate for the release of political prisoners in Belarus. Tikhanovsky, who was unexpectedly freed from solitary confinement after five long years, described his harrowing experiences in prison during a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania.
His release, along with that of thirteen other political prisoners forced into exile, coincided with US special envoy Keith Kellogg's historic visit to Minsk, where he met with the authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. This marks the first significant American engagement with Belarus in many years, potentially signifying a shift in diplomatic relationships.
At the press conference, a tearful Tikhanovsky recounted the unbearable conditions he endured in prison, revealing that he was completely isolated from the outside world and lacked basic necessities. "It's a nightmare," he said, asserting the inhumanity of his treatment and the plight of more than 1,000 others still incarcerated for political reasons.
Tikhanovsky called upon Trump to leverage his influence, stating, "With one word, he could free all political prisoners." His message was supported by Tikhanovskaya, who expressed pride in her husband's bravery while noting the emotional toll on their family, particularly as their daughter struggled to recognize her father due to his drastic physical changes during imprisonment.
Despite the recent prisoner releases, Tikhanovsky underscored that what Belarus truly desires is the lifting of US sanctions, which he claims only serve to further isolate the regime. Before his arrest, Tikhanovsky was a popular video blogger and a charismatic figure in Belarusian opposition politics, famously rallying against Lukashenko through social media and public appearances.
While Tikhanovskaya took up the mantle of leadership following her husband's imprisonment, Tikhanovsky made it clear he has no intentions of usurping that role, rather he wishes to serve as a symbol of hope for Belarusians fighting against repression. Thousands of Belarusians have fled the country since the crackdown on protests in 2020, and human rights organizations continue to report widespread political persecution under Lukashenko's regime.
