Belarus’ opposition pair will continue to push for political prisoners’ freedom

President Alexander Lukashenko freed a major opposition figure in Belarus on Sunday. On Sunday, he told supporters to keep working for change and the release of political prisoners. He also said that his wife would continue to lead the movement from exile.

Siarhei Tsikhanouski was released from jail on Saturday by Lukashenko after more than five years. He was then driven to Lithuania to be with his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The deal was arranged by the United States.

We are thankful that he is still living and that we are able to fight together for our country and the freedom of the other political prisoners, Tsikhanouskaya told a news conference in Vilnius on Sunday.

It’s my pleasure to thank President Trump and his staff. “This moment would not have been possible without their help,” she said.

Lithuania said on Saturday that 13 more inmates had also been freed. This was Lukashenko’s biggest move yet to try to get closer to the West.

A 46-year-old video blogger named Tsikhanouski was arrested in 2020 while trying to run against Lukashenko for president. He told Belarusians to keep fighting the president.

He held up his hand and said, “Let all Belarusians know that if you were waiting for a sign, here it is.”

NOT ALLOWED TO CONTACT FAMILY, LAWYER, OR PRIEST

With his head shaved, Tsikhanouski read poetry he had written while he was in jail. He started to cry as he talked about how hard it was for him, like not being able to talk to his family, a lawyer, or a priest for years.

He said that being locked up alone for small offenses had made him lose weight and hurt his health.

“This is killing people. This is a terrible dream. “You need to get these other people out right away,” he told her.

He told Trump that all he had to do was ask for Trump to use his power to free other political prisoners in Belarus.

“Trump only needs one word to do it.” He is able to. “Please,” Tsikhanouski begged through tears.

Even though he was freed, Tsikhanouski said that his wife would continue to lead Belarus’s resistance in exile.

“The leader of the opposition is Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, my wife,” he said, crying as he talked about how their nine-year-old daughter thought he was someone else when they saw each other again on Saturday.

“Now (the children) are getting used to the feeling that their father is here again,” she said.