It was incredibly emotional for me to finally see my husband after 5 long years. He is alive, and we are together again and remain committed to our fight.
I want to personally thank President Trump and his administration. Without their tireless efforts, this moment would never have happened.
Special gratitude goes to General Kellogg, John Coale, and Christopher Smith, who played a key role in securing Siarhei’s release and the freedom of other political prisoners – not only Belarusians, but Latvians, Estonians, Poles, Japanese, Swedes, and Americans.
This success became possible thanks to international action, with crucial support from Lithuania, which provided us refuge. We are grateful for the strong and principled position of this wonderful country. …And Poland, which has sheltered thousands of Belarusians and advocated so much for the Belarusian cause on the international arena.
My sincere thanks also go to all global leaders: Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola, Keir Starmer, the leaders of the EU and Nordic countries, and also to those who fought tirelessly for Siarhei’s freedom.
Special thanks go from me to Radosław Sikorski and Boris Johnson, who became Siarhei’s “godparents,” and to all the members of parliaments who “adopted” political prisoners. Your support made this possible.
Today, four more freed Belarusians are with us: Siarhei, Kiryl, Natallia, and Ihar. I want to thank Stephen Capus, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who is present here today. He did tremendous work to help secure the release of journalists Ihar Karnei and Andrei Kuznechyk. We now await the release of Ihar Losik and all 38 journalists who remain behind bars.
Over 1,150 Belarusians remain unjustly imprisoned. Among them are Ales Bialiatski, Maryia Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, Andrzej Poczobut, Mikalai Statkevich, Viktoryia Kulsha. Repressions in Belarus are relentless and brutal. And people are deprived of their lives almost every morning in prisons or when they are released.
And this must stop. Political trials must end. All must be freed.
We will continue working closely with President Trump’s administration and all our allies in Europe and across the Atlantic to secure the freedom of every political prisoner. It is our mission, our fight for justice.
We will continue to strengthen our democratic movement, we will continue to support Ukraine, and hold all perpetrators accountable. Belarus’ democratic forces remain united, determined, and unwavering in our commitment to bring freedom, democracy, and independence to our nation.
