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Biélorusian President Alexander Lukashenko released the head of the imprisoned opposition Sergei Tsikhanousi and more than a dozen other prisoners and political journalists in a surprise decision negotiated by the special envoy of Doland Trump.
The decision to release Tsikhanouski, who has been imprisoned since he challenged Lukashenko for the presidency in 2020, follows a meeting between the Belarusian leader on Saturday and Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine.
“It is difficult to describe joy in my heart,” said Tsikhanouski’s wife, Sviatlana tsikhanouskayaWho intervened to stand in the elections instead of her husband after being imprisoned and helped to conduct great protests against Lukashenko.
“We have not finished. 1,150 political prisoners remain behind bars. Everything must be released,” she added on X, after thanking the American president and the European allies.
The 14 prisoners released on Saturday were brought to Lithuania, a neighboring Baltic state, where journalists filmed Tsikhanouskaya in his arms by hugging her husband while he was coming out with a minibus.
A spokesman for the Lithuanian Prime Minister said the prisoners had been released by Lukashenko following an agreement with Kellogg. They include five Belarusians, three Poles, two lettons and citizens from Japan, Sweden and Estonia.
Tsikhanouski was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2021. A year earlier, he and other candidates had sought to appear against Lukashenko, the first and only president of the country since 1994.
Three women head for the electoral campaign after his arrest, with Tsikhanouskaya joined by Veronika Tsepkalo, the wife of another barred candidate, and Maria Kolesnikova.
Lukashenko Claimed victory But the opposition challenged the result, highlighting the proof that the vote had been rigged and triggering a wave of demonstrations that have shaken the country for months.
Thousands have been imprisoned, including Kolesnikova. She remains imprisoned, as is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize Ales Bialiatski, the opposition chief Viktor Babariko and many others.
Ihar Karnei, a former radio journalist Free Europe / Radio Liberty who worked with the point of sale for two decades and was detained in 2023, was also released, according to the station.
“We are deeply grateful to President Trump to have obtained the release of this courageous journalist, who suffered in the hands of the Belarusian authorities,” said Stephen Capus, managing director of the media.
