Shocking News for the Leader of Belarusian Opposition: Husband’s Death in Prison

Leader of Belarusian Opposition Receives Anonymous Information of Her Husband’s Death in Prison

Leader of Belarusian Opposition Receives Shocking News

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was informed on Tuesday that her husband, Siarhei, has died in prison. She received an anonymous note containing this distressing information. Tsikhanouskaya, who has long been fighting against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, stated to AP that she has no evidence to confirm the validity of the information mentioned in the note.

While the opposition leader is currently not receiving any communication from her husband, she informed the Associated Press that she has not received any letters from him since early March. Additionally, she is unable to reach him through his lawyer.

A Challenging Situation for Tsikhanouskaya and Her Husband

In February, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who was a presidential candidate in the 2020 Belarusian elections, was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Later, he was given an additional 1.5-year imprisonment for refusing to comply with the penal colony staff.

Tsikhanouski, previously a blogger and activist, gained popularity in Belarus long before the 2020 presidential campaign. Although the authorities denied his candidacy registration due to his imprisonment for an administrative offense, his wife decided to run as a candidate.

Siarhei Tsikhanouski was arrested on May 29, 2020, during a pre-election rally and has remained in prison ever since. In December 2021, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison, including charges of “organizing mass riots.”

Belarusian Opposition and the Struggle for Democracy

In 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also participated in the presidential elections in Belarus, challenging Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. The leader of Belarus, widely regarded as a dictator, officially received 80.1% of the votes. According to official results, Tsikhanouskaya garnered the support of 10.1% of the voters.

The opposition considered these results to be fraudulent, leading to a wave of protests across the country demanding fair elections. These became the largest mass protests in the history of Belarus. In response, the authorities conducted widespread repression against civil society. Tsikhanouskaya herself was forced to leave the country after the elections due to pressure from the authorities.