Belarus opposition leader, 13 others freed from jail

Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say.
Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X.
A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko.
Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said.
A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added.
"We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners.
Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said.
A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile.
He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded.
"My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters.
The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports.
US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus.
In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country.
Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic.
She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election.
with DPA and AP

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Belarus opposition leader, 13 others freed from jail

Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP

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5 hours ago

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Belarus opposition leader, 13 others freed from jail

Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP

West Australian

5 hours ago

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Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP