Belarus activist after an attempt to run for the presidency after spending 5 years star-news.press/wp

Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a prominent figure in the opposition of Belarus, was released on Saturday after more than five years in prison, in the most important step so far by President Alexander Lukashenko to try to reduce his isolation from the West.

The 46 -year -old has been drove across the border to Lithuania for the emotional reunion with his wife, Sveatlna Zikhanskaya, the leader of the exile opposition.

The Lituanian government said that 13 other prisoners were released and took there after that talks Between Lukashenko and US Special Envoy Keith Kelog. In total, five Belarusians were released with three columns, two Latvin, Japanese citizens, one from Estoni and one Swedish.

A video released her office showed.

She said: “It is difficult to describe joy in my heart.”

Franak Viakorka, chief political consultant in Tskhanoskaya, told Reuters that Tskhanoski lost his weight and his health suffered. He said, “It seems like a different person,” but he was in a good morale and was joking with US officials.

Viacorka said that Tskhanuski described “” terrible things that happened to him, but he did not break … he wanted to continue fighting. “

In a post on X, thank Tsikhanouskaya, US President Donald TrumpIn addition to Kelogg and others for their efforts to secure her husband’s launch.

Lukashenko was avoided from the West for years after crushing the pro -democracy demonstrations brutally in 2020 and then allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin, his close ally, to launch part of 2022 conquest Ukraine From Belarusian lands.

Last year, he released more than 300 prisoners, while political analysts saw the beginning of an attempt to restore relations with Western governments and seek to ease international sanctions against Belarus. The opposition politician Maria Calisnicava and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize Alez Bayalisky is the most prominent of those behind bars.

“We did not finish,” he wrote Tskhanoskaya, and called for the release of 1150 other prisoners.

Natalia Aisont spokesman said that Lukashenko issued a pardon for all who were issued on Saturday in response to an American request. In a statement, she said that the Belarusians who released them “were convicted of extremist and terrorist activity.”

She said that the decision to release Tskhanuski “was strictly taken by the president with the aim of the family.”

Esmant said that Kelog’s talks with Lukashenko started on Friday evening and lasted 6 and a half hours at dinner, covering the Ukrainian conflict, The Middle EastRelations between Russia, Belarus and China, and sanctions policy.

“It was a night when it ended,” she said. “The topics currently discussed were as imagined. They talked about things related to the entire world.”

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Kiloj, an American official, is the highest association to visit Belarus in years, He saw his mission As one can help start the peace conversations that aim to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Stephen Kabous, US President Marco Rubio and others, said among those who were issued by Belarus, Ihhar Carney, a former journalist on Europe Radio/Radio Al Freedom Radio.

Viacorka said that the freed individuals have no idea where they were going when they took from their cells.

“The hands were caught, they were brought to cars, and they were brought to the border. They were surprised, and they did not know those who released them, and why they were released, and what was happening. It was good to see happiness in their eyes.”

Upon arrival at Lithuania, they were transferred to the American embassy, ​​ate pizza and drank Coca -Cola, and they were given mobile phones so that they could speak to their families for the first time in years, he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Layen said that the release of “great news and a strong symbol of hope for all political prisoners who suffer from the Lukashenka system.”

“The free world needs you, my car!” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslao Sikorsky said to X.

Tsikhanouski, a video blogger, was arrested in 2020 while planning to run for the presidency against Lukashenko, and the following year was convicted of organizing mass disorders and inciting social hatred. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison, and he is one of the longest prison terms in the history of modern Belarus.

His supporters said that the charges were fabricated and political motives. Sviatlana ran in the elections in his place, and the mass protests erupted after Lukashenko claimed a ground victory and was accused by opposition governments and cared about by contracting the result.

Viakorka said that the release of Tskhanuski would motivate the exile opposition.

“It is a big boost to our battle, and I think it will attract attention to the Belarusian political prisoners and the world at the present time – we have to use this momentum.”