The husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has been unexpectedly released from prison in Belarus, alongside 13 other political prisoners. Sergei Tikhanovsky, an opposition activist himself, has been moved to Lithuania and reunited with his wife in Vilnius after spending five years behind bars. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya celebrated her husband's release by sharing a short video of their emotional reunion, expressing her overwhelming joy.
The timing of this sudden release coincided with the visit of US special envoy Keith Kellogg, who met with Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko in the capital, Minsk. The Lithuanian foreign minister confirmed that the released 14 political prisoners were receiving care in Lithuania, with some being Belarusian nationals and others hailing from Japan, Poland, and Sweden. However, Tikhanovskaya's husband stands out as the most prominent among them.
Sergei Tikhanovsky, known for his vividly outspoken persona and significant social media following, had called for action against Lukashenko, referring to him as a "cockroach." His activism led to his arrest in 2020 while he was campaigning for the presidency. In 2021, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for inciting mass protests against Lukashenko's regime. Following Tikhanovsky's imprisonment, his wife, Tikhanovskaya, a political novice, rose to prominence as a leading opposition figure.
Although several prisoners were released, others remain behind bars. Maria Kolesnikova, another notable opposition leader, is confirmed to still be incarcerated. She remains hopeful for future releases but insists more efforts are needed for broader political reforms.
In the video shared by Tikhanovskaya, her husband appeared much thinner and changed since his incarceration, which has raised concerns about his health. Franak Viacorka, a senior adviser to Tikhanovskaya, referred to the news as a "big day" but acknowledged that the release was unexpected and not something they believed would happen.
Tikhanovskaya expressed gratitude to US President Trump, Keith Kellogg, and European allies for their roles in her husband's release and emphasized the ongoing fight to free approximately 1,150 other political prisoners imprisoned for opposing Lukashenko's rule.
Experts speculate that Lukashenko’s decision to release Tikhanovsky might stem from the desire to improve strained relations with the US. However, discussions over potential concessions or sanctions from the US remain unclear.
While the release of Tikhanovsky is seen as a diplomatic breakthrough, it does not signify an end to the political repression faced by many Belarusians. Reports indicate that the regime is still heavily suppressing dissent and investigations into new cases of harassment and arrests persist.
Despite being out of prison, it is uncertain what role Tikhanovsky will play in the opposition now that he is out. His return adds a layer of uncertainty to the democratic movement, as Tikhanovskaya emerges as the recognized leader among Belarusian activists.
Among the other individuals released was Natalia Dulina, an Italian professor imprisoned since 2022, who described her unexpected transfer from prison in a terror-filled ordeal, only realizing her release at the border with Lithuania. In the wake of political discontent, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have fled the country, and tens of thousands more have been imprisoned for political reasons, reflecting the ongoing human rights violations within the nation.
