Belarus: The Opposer Sergeii Tikhanovski

All and all were victims of the repression that followed the presidential election of 2020 in Bélarus, managed for more than 30 years by Alexandre Loukachenko.

Five years ago, Mr. Tikhanovski had been at the heart of the great protest movement against the re -election of Mr. Loukachenko, protests that the latter had crushed in violence. It is therefore the release of a leading opponent.

“Sergei Tikhanovski was pardoned. 13 other people have also been released, “said the NGO Bélarusse de Défense de Human Rights Viasna, herself persecuted by power, in a message on Telegram.

Opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa, she published a video showing her a long man with a shaved skull who kisses her in the neck.

She then broadcast a message, on X, notably thanking American President Donald Trump and “our European allies” for “all their efforts”.

“It’s difficult to describe joy in my heart,” she wrote. “We haven’t finished it. 1,150 political prisoners remain behind bars. They must all be released, ”she added.

“He’s near me, with the children. Our family dreamed of this for five years and we all worked for that, from the moment of his arrest, “she added on Telegram.

The liberation of the opponent was described as “fantastic news” and “symbol of hope” for all political prisoners to the Bélarus, by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who reiterated her call to “their immediate liberation”, on X.

Opponent Tikhanovski, 46, was arrested in May 2020 shortly before the August presidential election marked by historical opposition demonstrations, followed by a great wave of repression ordered by President Alexandre Loukachenko.

Blogger, he animated a popular YouTube channel and wanted to challenge Mr. Loukachenko, in power since 1994, during this presidential election.

After his incarceration, his wife Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa, who had no political experience, had resumed his torch and had mobilized the crowds during his electoral campaign.

But Mr. Loukachenko had won the ballot, officially with 80% of the votes. Tens of thousands of people then demonstrated, for weeks, against his re -election, denouncing massive fraud.

The authorities have matured the movement with thousands of arrests, torture in detention and hundreds of heavy prison terms.

For her part, Ms. Tikhanovskaïa had been forced to exile, under pressure from the authorities. Since then, she has directed the opposition from the foreigner for the foreign repression from abroad.

According to the NGO VIASNA, among the 14 political prisoners released on Saturday are a journalist for the Radio Free Europe media, a university professor, a Swedish-Bélarusian citizen, a businessman and an anarchist activist.

In 2021, Mr. Tikhanovksi had been sentenced to 18 years in prison for “organization of riots” and “incitement to hatred”, then to an additional 18 months for “insubordination”.

He was held in very strict conditions, with very few contacts with the outside world.

In March 2024, his wife said he had none of his news for over a year.

The NGO Viasna published images after his release showing him his very emaciated face compared to the period preceding his imprisonment.

On X, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, bordering Bélarus and live many opponents of Bélarusses in exile, including Ms. Tikhanovskaïa, said that the 14 liberated people were on Lithuanian territory.

“The role of the United States in this release has been crucial,” added Lithuanian minister Kęstatis Budrys.

His Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski, where tens of thousands of Belarussians who fled the repression also, thanked the American envoy Kellogg.

Since his return to power, the administration of American president Donald Trump has come closer to Russia, the main ally of the Bélarus, whose territory had served as the basis of the Russian troops to attack Ukraine in 2022 and which is under the blow of many Western sanctions.

This warming of American-Russian relations has notably distinguished itself in recent months by the release or the exchange of American citizens detained in Russia.