Belarusian opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky has been released from prison after serving over five years behind bars, according to the Belarusian human rights group Viasna. The unexpected release followed a presidential pardon, though the government has not officially confirmed the move. Tikhanovsky’s wife, exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, shared a heartfelt video of their reunion on social media, simply captioned: “FREE.”
Tikhanovsky, 46, was initially arrested in May 2020 after announcing plans to run against long-time authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko in the August 2020 presidential election. His arrest came just weeks before the vote, triggering a wave of protests across the country. The Belarusian authorities accused him of “organising mass riots” and “inciting social hatred” charges widely condemned by international human rights organisations as politically motivated.
With Tikhanovsky imprisoned, his wife Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a political newcomer, stepped in to run in his place. Her candidacy quickly gained momentum and symbolised the growing public dissatisfaction with Lukashenko’s rule. Following Lukashenko’s controversial victory in the election widely considered to have been rigged mass protests erupted across Belarus. The government responded with a brutal crackdown, arresting thousands, including opposition leaders and protesters.
In 2021, Tikhanovsky was sentenced to 18 years in prison, and later given an additional 18 months for “insubordination” while incarcerated. His release now, under unclear circumstances, marks a rare concession by the Belarusian regime, which has outlawed all opposition movements and remains the only country in Europe to retain the death penalty.
The release comes amid mounting international pressure on the Lukashenko government to release political prisoners and improve its human rights record. Viasna reports that over 1,000 political prisoners remain in custody in Belarus.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has lived in exile in Lithuania since the crackdown, called her husband’s release a “moment of joy” but underscored that many others remain unjustly imprisoned. “We continue to fight for every political prisoner,” she said.
Tikhanovsky’s release is seen as a significant, though limited, victory for the Belarusian opposition, which continues to demand democratic reforms and an end to authoritarian rule.
