Belarus Opposition Leader's Husband Appeals to Trump for Political Prisoners' Release

In a heartfelt plea following his release from solitary confinement, Belarusian opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky called on President Trump to advocate for the liberation of all political prisoners in Belarus.

Sergei Tikhanovsky, husband of prominent Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, made a passionate appeal to US President Donald Trump during a press conference after his unexpected release from prison. After five years of solitary confinement, Tikhanovsky reunited with his wife in Lithuania, where he urged Trump to “just say the word” to secure the freedom of the more than 1,000 political prisoners still in Belarusian jails.

The recent release of Tikhanovsky, alongside thirteen other prisoners who were forced into exile, coincided with US special envoy Keith Kellogg's historic visit to Minsk, the capital of Belarus. This marked the first significant American diplomatic engagement in many years with the regime of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

During the emotional press conference, Tikhanovsky broke down while recounting the brutal conditions he endured in jail, which included being denied contact with the outside world, and even not being allowed to communicate with a priest or receive letters. "For five years, I couldn’t even go to confession... You don’t even get letters," he lamented. “It’s a nightmare. They have to stop this. We have to get people out.”

He made a direct appeal to President Trump, stating that he possesses the power to effect change in Belarus. "He could free all political prisoners with one word. I ask him to say that word now," Tikhanovsky urged. His wife, Tikhanovskaya, who has been a vocal advocate for democracy in Belarus since taking her husband's place in the presidential race following his arrest, expressed her admiration and admiration for her husband, calling him "my personal hero."

Despite their joy at being reunited, she highlighted the grim reality of their daughter's initial failure to recognize her father due to his drastic physical changes during imprisonment. Tikhanovsky emphasized the importance of international support and indicated that collaboration with the US could pressure the Belarusian regime to release political prisoners.

While Tikhanovsky now stands as a symbol of opposition against Lukashenko’s regime, he made it clear he does not seek to usurp his wife’s leadership, instead, he called on all citizens of Belarus to rise against oppression. Both he and Tikhanovskaya acknowledged the potential transformative effects of increased international engagement, including an end to US sanctions that Belarus desperately seeks.

Since widespread protests erupted in Belarus following the contentious 2020 presidential elections, countless dissidents have been arrested, with tens of thousands imprisoned according to human rights advocates. Tikhanovsky's release has rekindled hope among many in a nation that has seen hundreds of thousands flee amidst persistent political unrest and ruthless crackdowns.