Sergei Tikhanovsky, a prominent Belarusian opposition figure, has spoken out for the first time in over five years after his surprise release from a high-security prison in Belarus. Tikhanovsky, a YouTuber and pro-democracy activist, was held in solitary confinement for daring to stand up to authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
“I was using the chance to show that it’s impossible to win democratically in Belarus,” Sergei explains, recalling his attempt to run in the 2020 presidential election. “I wanted to show that the elections are fake, and they arrested me.” His wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, went on to run in his place, attracting huge crowds that eventually turned into mass protests and arrests.
Tikhanovsky’s five-year imprisonment was marked by harsh treatment, including total isolation, no letters, and no phone calls. “For the last two-and-a-half years, I was in total isolation. I didn’t get a single letter in almost three years. For almost three years, they didn’t let me have any phone calls,” he says. He wasn’t even allowed to see a priest, with prison officials taunting him, saying, “You will die in prison. We are going to keep extending your time, and you won’t get out.”
The former opposition blogger spent endless weeks in punishment cells, often for trivial reasons like a mark on the wall or a stray cobweb. These cells were tiny, measuring just three-by-two meters, with a hole in the floor for a toilet and no basic amenities like a mattress, sheet, or pillow. To cope with the harsh conditions, Tikhanovsky would exercise every hour through the night, doing sets of squats and sit-ups to keep warm.
Tikhanovsky’s release came after a senior US delegation, led by special envoy Keith Kellogg, paid a rare visit to Lukashenko. Alongside 13 other political prisoners, Tikhanovsky was freed, sparking hopes for improved relations between Belarus and the West. Lukashenko’s diplomatic win will likely ease some of the pressure he’s faced since suppressing peaceful protests in 2020 and supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Reuniting with his family after five long years was emotional for Tikhanovsky. His daughter, who was just four when he was arrested, didn’t recognize him initially, but soon threw herself into his arms. “She didn’t recognize me,” he recalls, fighting back tears. “Then she threw herself into my arms, and we hugged for a long time.”
Despite the physical toll of his imprisonment – Tikhanovsky lost almost 60kg (132 pounds) – his spirit remains unbroken. “Physically, I’m half the size and half the weight,” he says. “But my spirit is not broken. Maybe it’s even stronger.” Tikhanovsky is now in enforced exile, but his determination to fight against the regime’s crimes remains unwavering. “Before, I’d only heard of the crimes of this regime, but now I’ve seen them firsthand, and we have to fight that.”
Tikhanovsky’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression. As he navigates his new life in exile, Tikhanovsky’s determination to fight for democracy and human rights in Belarus remains strong.