After five years behind bars, Siarhei is finally free. The news touched the hearts of lawmakers, presidents, and ministers — from Vilnius to Washington. Leading politicians around the world expressed solidarity and support for Sviatlana, Siarhei, and all Belarusians who continue the struggle.
Friedrich Merz (Chancellor, Germany)
“The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other political prisoners is good news. Today, my thoughts are with the many innocent people still being held by the Belarusian regime. We will continue to strongly advocate for their release.”
https://x.com/bundeskanzler/status/1936492823752126945
Catherine Colonna (Former Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France)
“Finally, some good news! I am glad about the release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski, whose wife is leading a remarkably dignified fight for democracy, as well as the release of 13 other Belarusian political prisoners. More than 1,000 still remain in the regime’s prisons. They must be freed.”
https://x.com/MinColonna/status/1936449882732003763
Robin Wagener (Member of the Bundestag, Germany)
“How long have we been waiting for this moment? After 5 painful years, Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya can finally hold her husband Siarhei in her arms again. We are deeply relieved and very happy that 14 political prisoners from Belarus were released today. This is a first important step. The release of the remaining more than 1,100 political prisoners must follow.”
https://x.com/robinwagener/status/1936444474294415418
Marta Kos (Commissioner for Enlargement, European Commission)
“Moved by these good news and the fact that justice has prevailed. Dear Sviatlana, we can all learn from you how important it is to never give up hope. We continue to work for the immediate release of all remaining political prisoners and for a free and democratic Belarus.”
https://x.com/MartaKosEU/status/1936443147749401045
Kaja Kallas (High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President, European Commission)
“The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other political prisoners marks a positive step after prolonged injustice. I welcome the US engagement that made this possible and share the joy of families reunited. But all political prisoners in Belarus must be freed.”
https://x.com/kajakallas/status/1936448422145343732
Jessica Rosencrantz (Minister for EU Affairs, Sweden)
“Incredible news! Sviatlana, your strong voice for a free and democratic Belarus has impressed and will continue to do so. Glad and relieved you are now reunited with Siarhei Tsikhanouski.”
https://x.com/Rosencrantz_J/status/1936443647920107533
Ursula von der Leyen (President, European Commission)
“Dear Sviatlana, this is fantastic news and a powerful symbol of hope for all the political prisoners suffering under the brutal Lukashenka regime. Europe continues to call for their immediate release.”
https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1936440893646475500
Ulf Kristersson (Prime Minister, Sweden)
“Many thanks to Presidetn Trump and his envoy Kellogg for having negotiated the release of several political prisoners from Belarus – among them Swedish citizen Galina Krasnyanskaya and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski. The release shows the importance of US engagement in our region. The pressure on Belarus must continue until all political prisoners are free.”
https://x.com/SwedishPM/status/1936438089099964797
Roberta Metsola (President, European Parliament)
“Wonderful news! Extremely happy for my friend Sviatlana! Our fight for all political prisoners in Belarus to be free will not stop here.”
https://x.com/EP_President/status/1936441566203085081
Radosław Sikorski (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Poland)
“The free world needs you, Siarhei! My sincerest joy goes out to you, Sviatlana and your entire family. Seeing you together again shows why years of struggle for freedom matter. We will continue to strive to free the rest, including Andrzej Poczobut. Thank you, General Kellogg, for securing safety release of 14 political prisoners in Belarus.”
https://x.com/sikorskiradek/status/1936430459421872329
Anne Applebaum (Journalist and Historian, United States, Poland)
“The husband of Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya has been released from a Belarusian prison. She entered politics after his arrest. She had no contact with him for several years”
https://x.com/anneapplebaum/status/1936423877896245733
Michal Szczerba (Member of the European Parliament, Poland)
“Joy! Siarhei Tsikhanouski has been released. We remember Andrzej Poczobut and all political prisoners of the Lukashenka regime. In the European Parliament, we constantly call for their release! Pressure works!”
https://x.com/MichalSzczerba/status/1936429097787199889
Catherine Godin (Ambassador of Canada to Poland)
“We rejoice with you at this most marvellous news, Sviatlana!”
https://x.com/GodinCath/status/1936440023538139216
Armin Laschet (ex-Leader of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany)
“The recipient of the 2022 International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya, accepted this highest European award also on behalf of all political prisoners in Belarus — especially her husband. Today, her husband was released.”
https://x.com/ArminLaschet/status/1936463571346755819
Maria Malmer Stenergard (Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden)
“The most fantastic news! Dear Sviatlana, so relieved and happy for you!”
https://x.com/MariaStenergard/status/1936428193319362779
Evgenia Kara-Murza (Free Russia Foundation)
“Oh the joy! My warmest congratulations to Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya and the families of 14 freed Belarusian political prisoners! And I know that the fight for all others, who like Maria Kalesnikava and Ales Bialiatski are still languishing behind bars, will continue.”
https://x.com/ekaramurza/status/1936432001533329541
Edgars Rinkēvičs (President, Latvia)
“Dear Sviatlana, very happy for you, Siarhei and children. This was very much awaited and long overdue moment. Indeed, Siarhei should have never been imprisoned just for wanting to make Belarus a better country in a democratic way.”
https://x.com/edgarsrinkevics/status/1936461666654298431
Theodoros Roussopoulos (President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Council of Europe)
“I am extremely delighted to see Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya reunite with her husband Siarhei, just freed from the Belarusian GULAG! I look forward to the day when all political prisoners in Belarus will be free!”
https://x.com/PACE_President/status/1936455467254845793
Simon Harris (Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister for Defence, Ireland)
“I want to send warm wishes to Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya on the release of her husband Siarhei, which is long overdue. Too many political prisoners remain unjustly detained in Belarus. I again call for their immediate release.”
https://x.com/SimonHarrisTD/status/1936447040587751808
Latvia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Thanks to the leadership of the United States – President Donald Trump and the U.S. President’s Special Envoy, Keith Kellogg, 14 foreign nationals imprisoned in Belarus were released today, including two Latvian citizens – Jurijs Gaņins and Dmitrijs Mihailovs. We are glad that among those released is also Siarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The Lukashenka regime still holds more than 1,000 political prisoners and continues to instrumentalise migrants along the borders with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. To change this, international pressure on Belarus must continue.”
https://x.com/latvian_mfa/status/1936468162142175253?s=12
Andrzej Halicki (Member of the European Parliament, Poland)
“Hard to express the happiness once the news came in. I am so happy for you, Sviatlana and Siarhei! Congratulations to your family and the kids! Your family is the story of love and an unyielding fight for freedom against all odds. Congratulations!”
https://x.com/AndrzejHalicki/status/1936471538791776496
Piotr Wilczek (Ambassador of Poland to the United Kingdom)
“Overjoyed to hear that Siarhei Tsikhanouski has been released from prison. Sviatlana, I greatly admire your courage and tireless fight for freedom and human dignity. Some 1,150 political prisoners in Belarus remain unjustly detained. None of us is free until all are free.”
https://x.com/AmbWilczek/status/1936461246187921520
Antonio Tajani (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy)
“The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski and other political prisoners in Belarus is good news — an important step after a long period of injustice. I commend the courage of my friend Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya, who has carried on the political struggle of her husband and of her people. Italy now hopes for the release of the other political detainees who are still unjustly imprisoned in the country.”
https://x.com/Antonio_Tajani/status/1936478050826264773
Frederic Petit (Member of the National Assembly, France)
“What beautiful images… what emotion, what hope! Seeing Siarhei Tsikhanouski released after spending so many years in the infamous prisons of the Lukashenka regime — what joy! Now, more than a thousand prisoners still remain to be freed. We must not give up!”
https://x.com/fpetitAN/status/1936454091309527182
José Manuel Albares (Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Spain)
“I celebrate the release of Belarusian opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other political prisoners. As I told his wife Sviatlana yesterday in Madrid, Spain will continue to support all those who defend freedom and democracy in Belarus. We call for the release of the more than one thousand Belarusian opposition members who still remain in the country’s prisons simply for trying to exercise their fundamental freedoms.”
https://x.com/jmalbares/status/1936485729577881693
Linas Linkevičius (Ambassador of Lithuania to Sweden, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defence, Lithuania)
“It’s unbelievable, but it’s true. Almost 5 years later, we can repeat – Siarhei is safe, he is in Lithuania! My sincere congratulations, dear Sviatlana, on the family reunion!”
https://x.com/LinkeviciusL/status/1936483466125688864
Margus Tsakhna (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia)
“Today marks a significant day for justice & human dignity. Thanks to President Donald Trump & Special Envoy General Kellogg & his team, an Estonian citizen has been freed from a Belarusian prison & is returning home. Among those released is Siarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of opposition leader Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya — a powerful moment for Belarus’ democratic movement. We are grateful to our partners in the US Department of State and every diplomat & partner who made this possible. But we cannot stop here. Hundreds of political prisoners still remain unjustly imprisoned in Belarus. They must be released — immediately & unconditionally.”
https://x.com/Tsahkna/status/1936435750230188414
Freedom House
“We are heartened to learn of today’s release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski from Belarusian prison, where he was unjustly imprisoned for running in the 2020 presidential elections, along with 13 other political prisoners.
However, this action should not allow the illegal Lukashenka regime to avoid accountability for the repression of the Belarusian people and his participation in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
We must not forget the 1,150 political prisoners in Belarus who remain behind bars, including Nobel Laureate Ales Bialiatski, RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, opposition figures Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka, among hundreds of other brave Belarusians who have sacrificed their freedom for a democratic Belarus.
We commend U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg for his efforts, and encourage the U.S., EU, and other democratic governments to continue to push for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus, and around the world. #FreeThemAll”
https://x.com/freedomhouse/status/1936469399558644131
Katrin Gunnarsdottir (Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iceland)
“Great news that Siarhei Tsikhanouski is out of prison and has been reunited with his loved ones. Agree with you, Sviatlana, that all political prisoners in Belarus must be released.”
https://x.com/thorgkatrin/status/1936466594521125279
Marina Machado (Opposition leader, Venezuela)
“What a great joy, Sviatlana! I’m truly moved to see you finally reunited with Siarhei! From Venezuela, we send our strength to the people of Belarus and the conviction that nothing can stop a nation determined to be free.”
https://x.com/MariaCorinaYA/status/1936446261256691789
Espen Barth Eide (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway)
“I welcome the long awaited release of Belarusian democracy movement leader Siarhei Tsikhanouski. I commend those who have worked for his release. Norway calls for the unconditional release of all political prisoners.”
https://x.com/EspenBarthEide/status/1936477630229815336
Antonio Costa (President of the European Council)
“Very glad to hear about the release of leading pro-democracy activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski, along with 13 other political prisoners, in Belarus. I welcome all international efforts that made this possible — including those by General Kellogg. The EU stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus and remains steadfast in supporting their pursuit of democracy and freedom.”
https://x.com/eucopresident/status/1936490167763599513
Johann Wadephul (Minister for Foreign Affairs, Germany)
“It is fantastic and very good news that Siarhei Tsikhanouski is finally free. At the same time, we do not forget the many other prisoners in Belarus. Lukashenka must finally release them.”
https://x.com/AussenMinDE/status/1936451568049803264
Priti Patel (Shadow Foreign Secretary, UK)
“I welcome the freeing of Siarhei and other political prisoners from the clutches of the Lukashenko regime. No one can truly imagine how Sviatlana and her family must be feeling. She has held the torch of freedom for so many and I remain in awe of her courage. She is right, we must all keep fighting for those who remain imprisoned by this terrible regime.”
https://x.com/pritipatel/status/1936466810942927142
Boris Johnson (ex-Prime Minister, United Kingdom)
“Excellent news. Now for free elections”
https://x.com/BorisJohnson/status/1936499683620474925
S&D Group
“We welcome the release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a strong voice for democracy in Belarus. Congratulations, Siarhei and Sviatlana. Finally, justice was served. Now, free all those who are unjustly detained. We continue to stand with the brave people of Belarus.”
https://x.com/TheProgressives/status/1936511138029519130
Keir Starmer (Prime Minister, United Kingdom)
“This is wonderful news and a moment of hope. The release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski is a reminder that democratic values cannot be silenced.”
https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1936517331825357226
Edmundo Gonzalez (President-elect, Venezuela)
“I am truly delighted by the release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski, husband of the legitimate president of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, after more than five years of imprisonment in Belarus.
He was arrested in May 2020, and since then, the president has never stopped her struggle. She always carried a folder with Siarhei’s photo — keeping his memory alive and reminding everyone that behind every political prisoner there is a life, a family, a cause.
Madam President, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this release — a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through perseverance, even in the face of the most closed regimes.”
https://x.com/EdmundoGU/status/1936519668199813247
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
“”Elated for Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya on news of her husband’s release as well as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Ihar Karnei,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “Today we rejoice. Tomorrow we resume working for the 1,100+ unjustly jailed in Belarus, including Ihar Losik. I look forward to learning details of this release.”
https://x.com/sfrcdems/status/1936506214852026844?s=46&t=70OTez4xJf9k2Cvl_vsM9Q
Hillary Clinton (ex-Secretary of State, USA)
“Finally, good news out of Belarus. Sending my best wishes to Sergei Tsikhanouski and Sviatlana”
https://x.com/HillaryClinton/status/1936525925568442424
Karlspreis
“Our 2022 Karlspreis laureate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, accepted the Prize also on behalf of all political prisoners in Belarus, especially her husband. Today, her husband has been released from prison.”
https://x.com/karlspreis_ac/status/1936526275742437834
Bill Browder (CEO, Hermitage Capital)
“Fantastic news! Sergei Tikhanovsky husband of Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya freed from prison today.”
https://x.com/Billbrowder/status/1936533830409580832
Sarah Rainsford (Correspondent, BBC)
“Siarhei’s sudden release was a big surprise to everyone, I’m told. He has been forced into exile and has lost a lot of weight in prison. But this is a huge relief for his family, of course. Still, so many political prisoners — including Masha Kolesnikova — remain behind bars”
https://x.com/sarahrainsford/status/1936437866663751756?s=46&t=70OTez4xJf9k2Cvl_vsM9Q
Oliver Röpke (President, European Economic and Social Committee)
“What wonderful news, dear Sviatlana! Democratic and human values will prevail over tyranny and arbitrariness. The European Economic and Social Committee will continue to stand by your side.”
https://x.com/oliverroepke/status/1936537383161528624
Björn Söder (Member of the Riksdag, Sweden)
“Big congratulations to Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya, who now gets to see her released husband.”
https://x.com/BjornSoder/status/1936498595748098268
Steve Cohen (Congressman, USA)
“Keep fighting to free ALL political prisoners”
https://x.com/RepCohen/status/1936468129258856940
Anders Fogh Rasmussen (ex-Secretary General of NATO, ex-Prime Minister, Denmark)
“The picture we waited 5 years for. Siarhei Tsikhanouski is free. Congratulations to Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya, who never gave up. Alliance of Democracies will continue to create platforms for political prisoners at our Copenhagen Democracy Summit. Thanks also General Kellogg for your leadership.”
https://x.com/AndersFoghR/status/1936692381455098359
Helmut Brandstätter (Member of the European Parliament, Austria)
“Wonderful News. All the best to your Family! You all are so courageous people! I am really looking forward to meet Siarhei and you in Brussels and Strasbourg.”
https://x.com/HBrandstaetter/status/1936455473345278189
NATO PA
“NATO PA President Marcos Perestrello: “Our warmest thoughts are with Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya after the US-mediated release of Siarhei Tsikhanouskii yesterday. They are both models of courage and resilience in the face of a ruthlessly repressive regime which suppresses its citizens’ freedoms and supports Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. We continue to urge the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.”
https://x.com/natopapress/status/1936729677298569488
Jan Lipavsky (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic)
“I received the news of the release of Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya’s husband with great joy. I wish their brave family all the best, and I hope that all political prisoners in Belarus will be released. The Czech Republic believes in the future of a free Belarus, where fundamental human and civil rights are not violated.”
https://x.com/janlipavsky/status/1936441050647728622?s=46
Yulia Navalnaya (Politician, Russia)
“I am very glad that today there are 14 fewer political prisoners. Tremendous work by Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya and her team. My congratulations to all the families of the released political prisoners. I want to especially congratulate Sviatlana and Siarhei. This is wonderful news!”
https://x.com/yulia_navalnaya/status/1936455794045952138
Thomas Byrne (Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Ireland)
“I am so happy that Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya has been reunited with her husband Siarhei and that he is now free! All political prisoners in Belarus must be freed!”
https://x.com/thomasbyrnetd/status/1936427740896354657?s=46
Kęstutis Budrys (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania)
“Today, 14 political prisoners — including Siarhei Tsikhanousky — who were imprisoned by the Lukashenka regime, have been successfully released. They are now safe in Lithuania and are receiving proper care. The US role in the release has been critical. But, this is not the end. Over 1,000 hostages still remain in Belarusian jails. They all must be freed without delay.”
https://x.com/budryskestutis/status/1936433500166496644?s=46
Baiba Braže (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia)
“Excellent news. I rejoice with Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya, and fully agree with her that all political prisoners in Belarus have to be freed.”
https://x.com/braze_baiba/status/1936426398157295632?s=46
Hudson Institute
“Hudson celebrates the release of Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya’s husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, after five years of political imprisonment.”
https://x.com/HudsonInstitute/status/1936819651087880625
Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Minister of Foreign Affairs, ex-Prime Minister, Denmark)
“Positive news yesterday with the release of 14 political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski. Brings me joy to see you reunited after so many years apart, Sviatlana. All remaining political prisoners in Belarus must be released.”
https://x.com/larsloekke/status/1936869778351898828
+Danish MFA, https://x.com/DanishMFA/status/1936858981491724654
PACE
“The release of Siarhii Tsikhanouskiy and 13 other political prisoners in Belarus is excellent news in today’s uncertain world,” said three general rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in a joint statement. “These releases are the result of unstinting efforts by many, above all Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, but also the United States, and others who made behind-the-scenes efforts.”
“We warmly welcome this development,” said the three general rapporteurs for the Assembly, Ryszard Petru (Poland, ALDE) who oversees its work towards a democratic Belarus, Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC) who deals with political prisoners, and Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD) who follows the situation of human rights defenders and whistleblowers.
“However, we should not forget that some 1200 political prisoners are still detained in appalling conditions, some incommunicado for several years, such as Václav Havel Human Rights Prize Laureates Maria Kalesnikava and Ales Bialatski, who was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and lawyer Maksim Znak. They should all be released immediately and unconditionally. Their place was never in prison.”
The rapporteurs added: “Today, more than ever, we would like to recall the Parliamentary Assembly’s steadfast support for Belarusian democratic forces, the families of political prisoners and civil society. We will continue to work together so that a democratic Belarus eventually joins the European family, where it belongs.”
https://pace.coe.int/en/news/9932/pace-rapporteurs-welcome-siarhii-tsikhanouskiy-s-release
NED
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) welcomes the release of prominent Belarusian political activist and blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other political prisoners as part of a U.S.-negotiated agreement.
Siarhei Tsikhanouski was arrested in May 2020 on politically motivated charges intended to block his candidacy in the Belarusian presidential election. His wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, entered the race in his stead and, according to all independent counts, won. The regime’s declaration of Lukashenka’s victory sparked the largest pro-democracy protests in Belarusian history and propelled Tsikhanouskaya as the leader of freedom-seeking Belarusians around the world. The fight for a free and independent Belarus continues to this day.
“We stand with Sviatlana and all our friends in the Belarusian pro-democracy movement in celebrating Siarhei’s release today,” said Damon Wilson, President and CEO of NED. “We share their joy at seeing Sviatlana and Siarhei reunited after five long years. Siarhei should never have spent a single day behind bars for his beliefs. We thank President Trump and Special Envoy Kellogg for their leadership in securing the release of Siarhei and other political prisoners.”
Convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 19.5 years in a high-security penal colony, Tsikhanouski, 46, spent over five years in detention—two of them in complete isolation with no proper access to a lawyer. Throughout this period, Tsikhanouskaya and her team campaigned tirelessly for his release and for the freedom of more than 1,100 political prisoners still held in Belarusian prisons. In 2024 she was awarded NED’s Democracy Service Medal in recognition of her efforts and leadership.
The National Endowment for Democracy reaffirms its unwavering support for the Belarus pro-democracy movement and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience.
Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli
(Coordinator of International Affairs of Vente Venezuela)
“Dear @prezident.sveta, yesterday we were talking about the situation of political prisoners in Venezuela and Belarus, and you were telling us about your husband, who had been kidnapped by the regime. Today he has been released, and we are very happy for you. As you said, the goal is to free them all”.
Andrzej Halicki
(Minister of Administration and Digitization, Poland)
“Hard to express the happiness once the news came in. I am so happy for you and Siarhei!
Congratulations to your family and the kids! Your family is the story of love and an unyielding fight for freedom against all odds. Congratulations!”
