Following his unexpected release from solitary confinement, Sergei Tikhanovsky beseeches US President Donald Trump to champion the cause of political prisoners still languishing in Belarusian jails amid ongoing oppression.
Belarus Opposition Leader's Husband Calls for US Support in Releasing Political Prisoners
Belarus Opposition Leader's Husband Calls for US Support in Releasing Political Prisoners
Sergei Tikhanovsky appeals to Trump for assistance as political prisoners remain jailed in Belarus.
In an emotional plea from Vilnius, Sergei Tikhanovsky, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, urged US President Donald Trump to "just say the word" and demand the release of all political prisoners detained in Belarus. His heartfelt appeal came shortly after his own release from five years in solitary confinement, where he endured harsh conditions and a total lack of communication with the outside world.
Thirteen other political prisoners were also released but forced into exile, coinciding with a recent visit to Belarus by US special envoy Keith Kellogg, marking a significant American diplomatic presence in the nation for the first time in many years.
At a press conference, Tikhanovsky struggled to hold back tears as he described the torment of being isolated without human contact, lamenting, "No letters, no calls, no priest, no lawyer." He highlighted the plight of over 1,000 political prisoners who remain incarcerated and insisted that their rights must be recognized. He stated, “It's inhuman. It's a nightmare. They have to stop this. We have to get people out.”
Tikhanovskaya, visibly emotional, referred to her husband as her "personal hero," revealing that their daughter failed to recognize him due to his dramatic physical changes in prison. During this time, Tikhanovskaya has emerged as a symbol of the pro-democracy movement after stepping into the political arena in place of her husband during the 2020 presidential elections against President Alexander Lukashenko, known for his authoritarian rule.
Despite the potential diplomatic gains from the US visit, Tikhanovsky underscored that the primary desire of Belarusian dissidents is the lifting of US sanctions against their country. Before incarceration, Tikhanovsky was a popular activist known for rallying citizens against Lukashenko and voicing concerns regarding government overreach.
As he reflects on his experiences, Tikhanovsky stated he has no intentions of claiming leadership for the Belarusian opposition but emphasized the strength of their cause. "If you were waiting for a symbol, this is it," he declared, encouraging Belarusians to resist the regime. He expressed satisfaction that his premature release may have saved his life from enduring the abusive conditions for the full extent of his sentence.
The political landscape in Belarus remains grim, with numerous individuals estimated to have fled the country since the brutal suppression of protests, leading to tens of thousands facing arrest for their opposition views, according to the human rights organization Viasna.
