After five years in solitary confinement, Sergei Tikhanovsky is now free, yet the toll of his incarceration is evident. Speaking from Vilnius shortly after his release, he revealed the emotional and physical scars of his imprisonment in a high-security Belarusian prison under conditions orchestrated by Alexander Lukashenko's regime. "The restriction on speaking was the hardest thing," he reflected, emphasizing that he endured years without contact with others and faced punishment for trivial infractions.
Tikhanovsky, once a prominent opposition figure and blogger, was arrested in 2020 while attempting to run for president against Lukashenko. Along with 13 other political prisoners, his release came after discussions between U.S. officials and the Belarusian leader, a political maneuver prompted by the latter's growing isolation due to his support for Russia during the Ukraine invasion.
Upon release, a stark transformation was visible; he lost almost 132 pounds during his time imprisoned. “Physically I’m half the size and half the weight,” he explained, yet he maintains a resilient spirit despite his ordeal. “My spirit is not broken. Maybe it's even stronger,” he declared.
Tikhanovsky's family reunion was bittersweet as his daughter failed to recognize him at first, but they soon embraced, alleviating some of the pain from his absence. His wife, now prominent in the opposition movement, expressed joy at his return but also caution about U.S. relations with Belarus. “We cannot soften the sanctions until repressions fully stop,” she stated, wary of potential political negotiations that may come at a cost to their cause.
In his first week of freedom, Tikhanovsky has engaged with diplomats and media outlets to spread his message for a democratic Belarus. Despite the challenges ahead, he remains steadfast in his hope for the release of other political prisoners and the eventual restoration of democracy in his homeland. As he adjusts to freedom, his commitment to fighting injustice continues undeterred.
Tikhanovsky, once a prominent opposition figure and blogger, was arrested in 2020 while attempting to run for president against Lukashenko. Along with 13 other political prisoners, his release came after discussions between U.S. officials and the Belarusian leader, a political maneuver prompted by the latter's growing isolation due to his support for Russia during the Ukraine invasion.
Upon release, a stark transformation was visible; he lost almost 132 pounds during his time imprisoned. “Physically I’m half the size and half the weight,” he explained, yet he maintains a resilient spirit despite his ordeal. “My spirit is not broken. Maybe it's even stronger,” he declared.
Tikhanovsky's family reunion was bittersweet as his daughter failed to recognize him at first, but they soon embraced, alleviating some of the pain from his absence. His wife, now prominent in the opposition movement, expressed joy at his return but also caution about U.S. relations with Belarus. “We cannot soften the sanctions until repressions fully stop,” she stated, wary of potential political negotiations that may come at a cost to their cause.
In his first week of freedom, Tikhanovsky has engaged with diplomats and media outlets to spread his message for a democratic Belarus. Despite the challenges ahead, he remains steadfast in his hope for the release of other political prisoners and the eventual restoration of democracy in his homeland. As he adjusts to freedom, his commitment to fighting injustice continues undeterred.
