Context:

Sergei Tikhanovsky, a prominent Belarusian opposition figure, was released after five years of solitary confinement in a Belarusian prison, where he endured harsh conditions for his activism against President Alexander Lukashenko. His detention occurred following his attempt to challenge Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, leading to his arrest prior to the vote. Despite the physical toll of imprisonment, including significant weight loss, Tikhanovsky remains unbroken in spirit and committed to exposing the crimes of the regime. His release, facilitated by a US diplomatic intervention, is seen as a strategic move by Lukashenko to open dialogue with the West, though Tikhanovsky remains concerned about the ongoing repression and high number of political prisoners. His wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who ran in his place during the election and leads the opposition, emphasizes the importance of maintaining sanctions until all repressions cease.

Dive Deeper:

• Sergei Tikhanovsky endured five years in solitary confinement in a high-security Belarusian prison, suffering harsh conditions and losing significant weight, yet his spirit remains unbroken, and he is more determined than ever to fight against the regime's crimes.

• Tikhanovsky was initially detained for attempting to run against Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, a move that highlighted the impossibility of democratic victory under the current regime, leading to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment.

• His release, along with 13 other political prisoners, was facilitated by a rare US diplomatic visit to Belarus, interpreted as Lukashenko's attempt to demonstrate cooperation and initiate dialogue with the West amid international isolation.

• Throughout his imprisonment, Tikhanovsky faced severe isolation and ill-treatment, with no contact with the outside world, no letters, phone calls, or even religious visits, which he describes as a psychological battle to survive.

• Upon his release, Tikhanovsky was reunited with his family in an emotional encounter, though his daughter initially did not recognize him due to his drastic physical transformation.

• Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, his wife and now a leading opposition figure, insists that sanctions should not be lifted until repressions cease, as new arrests continue despite some releases, indicating no change in Lukashenko's policies.

• Tikhanovsky's first week of freedom has been filled with political engagements and reconnecting with his family, while he remains focused on the broader fight for a democratic Belarus, without any aspirations to challenge his wife's leadership role.