Belarusian opposition activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who was released on 21 June, has declared his full support for Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Source: Tykhanouski at a press conference on 22 June, as reported by Nasha Niva, a Belarusian news outlet

Quote: "I absolutely support Ukraine. President Zelenskyy has endured an incredibly difficult path. What I went through is nothing compared to what he has gone through. He is a hero to me. I support him wholeheartedly."

Details: Tsikhanouski emphasised that he has never been a pro-Russian politician.

Quote: "I had a business; I had offices in Moscow, in Kyiv and a company in Lithuania. That’s all. I have never been pro-Russian – that’s fake. Our common enemy is the Putin regime. Until it collapses, there will be no victory in Belarus."

Details:Regarding his trip to Crimea in 2017, Tsikhanouski explained that "at the time, I wasn’t a politician and didn’t think about political issues" and that "I travelled there as a pilgrim".

He also urged Belarusians to "fight against Lukashism".

At the same time, Tsikhanouski stated that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, his wife, remains the leader of the Belarusian opposition.

Quote: "The leader of the opposition is my wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and I’m not planning to claim anything here. A person who has spent five years in isolation cannot be a leader. We have thousands of leaders like me."

More details:Nasha Niva noted that Tsikhanouski began his speech by thanking US and European politicians.

Previously:

• On 21 June, following a visit to Belarus by Keith Kellogg, the US President’s special envoy, 46-year-old Belarusian opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski was released after five years in prison. He left Belarus shortly afterwards.
• In total, the Lukashenko regime released 14 political prisoners that day.
• Among the 14 freed prisoners, released with the support of the US, were three Polish citizens, two Latvians, one Estonian, one Swedish citizen, one US citizen and two Japanese nationals.
• Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys confirmed that all 14 political prisoners, including Tykhanouski, are safe in Lithuania and are receiving appropriate assistance.

Background:

• In 2019, Siarhei Tsikhanouski created the YouTube channel called A Country for Life. He travelled across Belarus, recording interviews with local residents who spoke openly about their problems and criticised the authorities and officials.
• In 2020, Tsikhanouski announced his intention to run for president. However, he was detained even before the election campaign began. His wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya – now the leader of the Belarusian opposition – submitted the candidacy documents in his place.
• In 2021, Tsikhanouski was sentenced to 18 years in a high-security penal colony on four politically motivated charges, including organising mass riots and inciting hatred. His sentence was later extended by another year and a half for allegedly disobeying the colony administration. Tsikhanouski did not plead guilty and refused to cooperate with the investigation.

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