US EditionBelarus opposition leader released from jail in US-brokered deal
- On June 21, 2025, Sergei Tikhanovsky, a key figure in Belarus’s opposition, was freed from prison following a US-mediated agreement in Minsk.
- Tikhanovsky’s release followed his 2021 18-year sentence for organising riots and inciting hatred amid Lukashenko’s crackdown on opposition since the disputed 2020 election.
- The pardon involved 14 political prisoners, including Tikhanovsky, who has relocated to Vilnius, while 1,150 detainees remain behind bars amid ongoing repression.
- Tikhanovsky’s wife, exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, thanked US officials and European allies for their role, sharing a video captioned "FREE" showing his joyful reunion with family.
- The release signals a rare concession by Lukashenko’s regime but does not end political tensions as Tsikhanouskaya continues to advocate for detainees’ freedom amid persistent crackdowns.
185 Articles
185 Articles
Belarus and the United States are considering the possibility of full normalization of relations, the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations, Valentin Rybakov, said today.
Sergei Tichanovsky was released on Saturday after long imprisonment and deported from the authoritarian-led ex-Soviet republic. "We are determined to continue the struggle," says his wife.
The Belarusian leader releases political prisoners after a meeting with Trump's special envoy. The most prominent freed now puts his hopes on the American president.
Belarus Opposition Figure Urges Continued Fight for Political Prisoners
A leading Belarusian opposition figure freed from prison by President Alexander Lukashenko said on Sunday his wife would continue to lead the exiled movement, and urged supporters to keep fighting for change and the release of political prisoners.
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