Belarus releases 14 political prisoners, including Tikhanovsky
Fourteen political prisoners, including Belarusian blogger and opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky, who had been sentenced to 18 years in prison, have been released in Belarus, according to the BBC.
His wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who leads the Belarusian opposition, announced her husband's release. She posted a short video showing their first embrace since 2020, saying "it's hard to describe the joy in her heart."
The sudden release occurred on Saturday, coinciding with a visit to Minsk, Belarus's capital, by U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, who met with the country's authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenka.
Sergei Tikhanovsky, an opposition activist, has been relocated to Lithuania. He has since reunited with his wife, who lives in exile in the capital, Vilnius, following five years in prison.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister confirmed in a statement on X that 14 political prisoners, including Tikhanovsky, had been released and were receiving care in Lithuania.
Tikhanovskaya's office stated that five of them were Belarusian citizens, with others identified as Japanese, Polish, and Swedish nationals.
Tikhanovsky's release, however, is by far the most high-profile.
A colorful and vocal figure with a large social media following in Belarus, he used to urge people to "stop the cockroach," referring to Lukashenka.
Ignoring the risks posed by the repressive regime, the blogger and activist regularly traveled across the country to meet people in town squares and villages, both listening to and conveying their concerns.
Sergei Tikhanovsky was imprisoned for 18 years in 2021 after a court convicted him of organizing mass protests against Lukashenka and other charges.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
