Belarusian Dissident Freed from Jail, Others Remain Behind Bars

Author: Vera Rousseff

June 24, 2025

HRRC strongly condemns Alexander Lukashenko’s authoritarian practices and repression of the Belarusian people, and urges the Trump administration to continue advocating for the release of the political prisoners held by the Lukashenko regime.

Tsikhanouski speaks to people gathered to support potential presidential candidates in the presidential elections in Minsk, Belarus in 2020. [Image credit: AP]

On Saturday, popular Belarusian dissident Siarhei Tsikhanouski was freed from prison after five years of solitary confinement. The country’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, made the unexpected decision to release Tsikhanouski, along with 13 other prisoners, after a visit from U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg. Over 1,100 other dissidents remain in prison.

Tsikhanouski rose to fame as a popular blogger, activist, and key leader in the opposition to Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin. He was imprisoned in 2020, after he announced his plans to challenge Lukashenko in that year’s election. Tsikhanouski’s wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, ran in her husband’s stead following his arrest, garnering significant support across the country. 

The August 2020 election–largely regarded by the West as fraudulent–resulted in a landslide victory for Lukashenko and handed him his sixth term in office. In response, tens of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets to protest the results, in what turned out to be the largest protest the country had ever seen. Lukashenko’s crackdown on the demonstrators was severe–many were beaten by the police and over 35,000 were detained, including prominent opposition figures. Tsikhanouskaya fled the country and her husband was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Belarus since 2006 and has expanded them over the last five years in response to Lukashenko’s brutal crackdown on the 2020 protests. Kellogg’s visit to Minsk last weekend was the first high-profile visit from an American official in years, possibly highlighting a divergence in the Trump and Biden regimes when it comes to their approach on Belarus. Lukashenko made the decision to free Tsikhanouski and the 13 other prisoners following a request from President Trump, according to Lukashenko’s press secretary.

During an emotional press conference the day following his release, Tsikhanouski described the brutal conditions he was subjected to during his imprisonment, stating that he was denied almost all contact with the outside world. He was unable to speak with his family, a lawyer, or even a priest. He also thanked President Trump and called on him to help free the remaining 1,150 prisoners, saying, "Trump has such power and such possibilities, that with one word he could free all political prisoners. I ask him to say that word now."

To the people of Belarus, Tsikhanouski’s message was to keep fighting. At Sunday’s press conference, with his fist raised in the air, he declared, "I want to tell all Belarusians: if you were waiting for a sign, here it is."

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Glossary

• Authoritarian: a governing system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms. In authoritarian regimes, leaders often maintain power through force and suppress dissent.

• Crackdown: a strong and sudden effort to restrict or eliminate undesirable or illegal behavior—typically by the government or law enforcement—often using force or intimidation.

• Dissident: a person who actively opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state. Dissidents often face censorship, arrest, or persecution for their beliefs.

• Divergence: a difference or separation in direction, opinion, or approach. When two things diverge, they move apart or become different from each other.

• Envoy (Special Envoy): a diplomatic representative sent by a government to conduct a special mission, usually temporary. A special envoy often handles sensitive or high-level negotiations.

• Fraudulent: characterized by deception or dishonesty. In the context of elections, a “fraudulent” election is one that is rigged or manipulated, violating principles of fairness and democracy.

• Garner: to gather or collect something—often information, support, or approval—especially as a result of effort.

• Landslide Victory: an overwhelming majority of votes won by a candidate or political party in an election. The term is often used to describe elections with wide margins of victory.

• Opposition Figures: individuals or groups who are politically opposed to the current government or ruling party, often advocating for reform or regime change.

• Political Prisoner: a person who is imprisoned for their political beliefs, actions, or affiliations—rather than for committing a common crime—often without a fair trial.

• Press Secretary: an official spokesperson for a government leader, agency, or organization. They communicate policies, statements, and responses to the media and public.

• Putin (Vladimir Putin): the President of Russia and a key political ally of Alexander Lukashenko. Known for his long tenure in power and authoritarian leadership style.

• Sanctions: penalties or restrictive measures imposed by one country (or group of countries) on another country, individual, or organization. Sanctions are typically used to influence behavior, punish violations of international law, or pressure governments to change policies. They can include trade restrictions, asset freezes, travel bans, or other economic and diplomatic actions.

• Solitary Confinement: a form of imprisonment in which a person is isolated from any human contact, often as a punitive measure. Long-term solitary confinement can have severe psychological effects.