Belarus Opposition Leader’s Husband Appeals for Help from Trump

Sergei Tikhanovsky, husband to Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, calls on President Trump to use his influence to secure the release of over 1,000 political prisoners still imprisoned in Belarus.

 

Sergei Tikhanovsky, recently freed from five years of solitary confinement in Belarus, has passionately called upon U.S. President Donald Trump to leverage his power to demand the release of all political prisoners still detained in his homeland. Tikhanovsky made this appeal during an emotional press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, just one day after he was unexpectedly reunited with his wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, amid the release of thirteen other political prisoners who were forced into exile.

His release coincided with the visit of U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg to Minsk, marking the first significant American diplomatic engagement with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in years. During his press conference, Tikhanovsky recounted the harrowing conditions he endured while imprisoned. He described being cut off from the outside world for years, deprived of essential communication and even basic hygiene items. "You don’t even get letters, not a single call," Tikhanovsky lamented, shedding tears as he detailed the torment of isolation.

Tikhanovsky was arrested in 2020 while attempting to challenge Lukashenko in the presidential election, later receiving an 18-year sentence for allegedly inciting mass protests. He asserted that the plight of political prisoners in Belarus constitutes inhuman treatment, and he urged not just Trump but the international community to take action. “Trump has such power and such possibilities, that with one word he could free all political prisoners. I ask him to say that word now,” he stated.

His wife, Tikhanovskaya, echoed his sentiments and expressed disbelief at how the regime operated. Their reunion was bittersweet, as their daughter struggled to recognize her father due to the stark change in his appearance from prison. Despite the emotional turbulence, Tikhanovsky clarified that he did not wish to assume leadership of the opposition from his wife, emphasizing her role as the primary leader.

He concluded his speech with a clear message to Belarusians, symbolizing hope and resilience, while expressing his determination to continue advocating for the rights of the oppressed. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Belarus since the onset of political unrest, and tens of thousands remain imprisoned, as reported by human rights organizations. The situation in Belarus highlights the urgent need for international support against oppressive regimes.