Belarus frees jailed opposition leader after appeal from US
WARSAW: Belarus freed top opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky and more than a dozen other political prisoners Saturday following an appeal from the White House, Minsk said, a sign of warming ties between Washington and Belarus-ally Moscow.
The release came just hours after US special envoy Keith Kellogg met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, the highest-profile visit of a US official to the authoritarian state in years.
Tikhanovsky's wife Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who took the mantle of the opposition movement after her husband's jailing, thanked US President Donald Trump directly for brokering the deal.
European politicians and members of Belarus's exiled opposition also welcomed the news.
"This is fantastic news and a powerful symbol of hope for all the political prisoners suffering under the brutal Lukashenka regime," European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said on X.
"Europe continues to call for their immediate release," she added.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski expressed his "sincerest joy", while Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics called Tikhanovsky's freedom a "much awaited and long overdue moment".
Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomed Tikhanovsky's release as "fantastically good news", in a post to X.
"At the same time, we must not forget the many other prisoners in Belarus. Lukashenko must finally release them," he added.
Pavel Latushko, a former culture minister in Belarus who supported the 2020 protests against Lukashenko, also hailed Tikhanovsky's release as an "important moment".
Tikhanovsky, 46, had been imprisoned for more than five years.
The popular Youtuber had planned to run against Lukashenko in the August 2020 presidential election, but was arrested and detained weeks before the vote.
He was sentenced in 2021 to 18 years in prison for "organising riots" and "inciting hatred", then to another 18 months for "insubordination".
Svetlana -- a political novice at the time of her husband's arrest -- ran against Lukashenko in his place but lost after what the opposition described as widespread falsification. She later fled Belarus.
"It's hard to describe the joy in my heart," she said in a post on X following her husband's release.
Among the 13 others freed were Radio Liberty journalist Igor Karnei, arrested in 2023 and jailed for participating in an "extremist" organisation.
They have now been transferred from Belarus to Lithuania, where they were receiving "proper care", Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said.
Though none of the released prisoners needed emergency medical assistance, "one of them needed emergency medical attention" as "they were imprisoned in difficult conditions", Budrys told the LRT public broadcaster, without elaborating.
Swedish-Belarusian citizen Galina Krasnyanskaya, arrested in 2023 for allegedly supporting Ukraine, was also freed, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Belarus, ruled by Lukashenko since 1994, has outlawed all genuine opposition parties. It is the only European country to retain the death penalty as a punishment.
The eastern European country still holds more than 1,000 political prisoners in its jails, according to Belarusian human rights group Viasna.
Lukashenko's spokeswoman said the Belarusian leader had ordered the release of the prisoners on Trump's "request", Russian state media reported.
The US leader appeared to take credit, writing "Thank you President Trump!" on social media, alongside a link to a news story about the prisoner release.
Since taking office, Trump has engaged in direct talks with Vladimir Putin, ending his predecessor's policy of isolating the Russian president.
The two nuclear powers have since worked to normalise diplomatic ties, which have for years lingered at their lowest point since the Cold War.
Tikhanovsky was for years held incommunicado, and in 2023 his wife was told that he had "died".
In a video published by Viasna on Saturday, he appeared almost unrecognisable, his head shaven and face emaciated.
A charismatic activist, Tikhanovsky drew the ire of authorities for describing Lukashenko as a "cockroach" and his campaign slogan was "Stop the cockroach."
Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in the 2020 election, a result that sparked massive opposition protests which authorities violently suppressed.
The Belarusian autocrat claimed a record seventh term in elections earlier this year that observers dismissed as a farce. - AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
an hour ago
- Malaysian Reserve
EU frets over US demands in trade talks it sees as unbalanced
THE US is demanding the European Union make what the bloc's officials see as unbalanced, unilateral concessions as part of ongoing trade talks, setting up a tough decision over whether to move ahead with countermeasures if the terms of any deal don't improve. The best-case scenario remains an agreement on principles that would allow the negotiations to continue beyond an early July deadline, according to people familiar with the matter. Among Washington's requests are measures relating to quotas for fish exports that EU officials say may be incompatible with World Trade Organization rules; tariff-related moves that aren't mutual; and a series of demands on economic security described by the officials from the bloc as far-fetched, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about private discussions. Many of US President Donald Trump's tariffs would stay even in the event of a deal, the people said. The EU, which has been seeking a mutually beneficial deal, will assess any end-result and at that stage decide what level of asymmetry — if any — it's willing to accept, the people added. Member states will likely have a range of views on the matter, and a €95 billion list of potential additional tariffs on US goods that Brussels has formulated risks being watered down by requests for concessions within the bloc. A European Commission spokesperson declined to comment to Bloomberg News on the status of the talks. 'We are fully and deeply engaged in negotiations. A negotiated, mutually beneficial solution remains our preferred outcome,' the spokesperson said. The EU is rushing to clinch a deal with Trump before tariffs on nearly all its exports to the US jump to 50% on July 9. The US president has blasted the EU – which he has said was created to 'screw' the US – over its goods surplus and perceived barriers to American trade. Trump spent much of a 20-minute meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada this week — repeating those grievances and complaining about barriers he claims US carmakers face, the people said. The EU estimates that US duties now cover €380 billion ($439 billion), or about 70%, of its exports to the US. The White House didn't respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Trump complained earlier this week about the EU talks, threatening to give up and impose unilateral tariffs. 'We're talking, but I don't feel that they're offering a fair deal yet,' Trump told reporters on the flight home from the G-7 meeting. 'They're either going to make a good deal or they'll just pay whatever we say they have to pay.' Asked on whether the EU would retaliate if a baseline tariff would stay, von der Leyen told reporters at the G-7 that 'from the very beginning, we have always said that we have different instruments on the table and they stay on the table till the very end, and this is also the case today.' The bloc has stepped up its engagement with the US, pledging fast-track negotiations to reach an agreement. Chief trade negotiator Maros Sefcovic held meetings with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over the past week. The US and EU are conducting in-depth discussions on critical sectors – such as steel and aluminum, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and civilian aircraft – as well as on tariff and non-tariff barriers, in addition to strategic purchases and economic security. While talks are taking place in a positive environment, they remain difficult, particularly with regards to the sectoral duties, said the people. Trump has introduced 25% tariffs on autos as well as on steel and aluminum. He's also announced the doubling of the metals levies and is working to expand tariffs on other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and commercial aircraft. As part of proposals shared with the US late last month, the EU has offered to gradually work toward zero-for-zero tariffs on cars, industrial goods and non-sensitive agricultural goods by looking at quotas as interim steps. The bloc is aiming to address US requests on non-tariff barriers through its simplification agenda, which will cut regulations in a number of sectors. Maintaining the EU's autonomy in regulatory and tax matters remains a red line. Although the EU is pushing to get a reprieve from some of Trump's universal and sectoral tariffs, the bloc expects that many of the levies will remain, leading to asymmetrical arrangements, said the people. Because of that, in parallel to ongoing talks with the Trump administration, the EU continues to prepare counter-measures should negotiations fail to yield a satisfactory result, or if the bloc opts to move ahead with measures to correct any imbalances. The EU has approved tariffs on €21 billion of US goods that can be quickly implemented in response to Trump's metals levies. They target politically sensitive American states and include products such as soybeans from Louisiana, home to House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as agricultural products, poultry, and motorcycles. The bloc has also prepared an additional list of tariffs on €95 billion of American products in response to Trump's so-called reciprocal levies and automotive duties. They would target industrial goods including Boeing Co. aircraft, US-made cars, and bourbon. Input provided by member states and other stakeholders asking for relief covers as much as €70 billion of the proposed package, according to people familiar, although the bloc's executive arm has made clear it will not fulfill all the requests for changes. The EU is also consulting member states to identify strategic areas where the US relies on the bloc, as well as potential measures that go beyond tariffs, Bloomberg previously reported. –BLOOMBERG
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian marches across Europe
LONDON: Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in European cities Saturday calling for an end to the war in Gaza, amid concerns the Iran-Israel conflict could spark wider regional devastation. In London, AFP journalists saw tens of thousands of protesters, who waved Palestinian flags as they marched through the British capital clad in keffiyeh scarves. In Berlin, more than 10,000 people gathered in the centre of the city in support of Gaza, according to police figures. And in the Swiss capital Bern, march organisers estimated that 20,000 people rallied in front of the national parliament, urging the government to back a ceasefire. There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza. This Saturday, protesters there carried signs including 'Stop arming Israel' and 'No war on Iran' as they marched in the sweltering heat. 'It's important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now,' said 34-year-old Harry Baker. 'I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation.' This was his third pro-Palestinian protest, he added. Regional fears Saturday's marches comes amid heightened global tensions as the United States mulls joining Israel's strikes against Iran. Tehran said Saturday that more than 400 people had been killed in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foe was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies. Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according to official figures. One marcher in London, a 31-year-old Iranian student who did not want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was 'scared'. 'I'm worried about my country. I know the regime is not good but it's still my country. I'm scared,' she said. Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade. Gaza's civil defence agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites. 'People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's where the genocide is happening,' said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus. 'Scared' In Berlin, demonstrators gathered mid-afternoon close to the parliament, some chanting 'Germany finances, Israel bombs'. 'You can't sit on the sofa and be silent. Now is the time when we all need to speak up,' said protester Gundula, who did not want to give her second name. For Marwan Radwan, the point of the protest was to bring attention to the 'genocide currently taking place' and the 'dirty work' being done by the German government. In Bern, demonstrators carried banners calling on the federal government to intervene in the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians. The rally there was called by organisations including Amnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Swiss Trade Union Federation. Slogans included 'Stop the occupation', 'Stop the starvation, stop the violence', and 'Right to self-determination'. Some marchers chanted: 'We are all the children of Gaza'. The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out has reached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry. Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says it aims to wipe out Hamas after the Islamist group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Desert cavalry holds the line
A POSSE of turban-clad soldiers perched on 'ships of the desert' may conjure images of the past, but Mauritania's camelback cavalry play a vital role in the fight against insurgents today. They are the Meharists, heirs to the camel-riding army units founded back in the time when imperialist France ruled over the west African nation. Kalashnikovs slung over the soldiers' shoulders, while a brand new drone sliced through the burning Saharan air in the southeast of the country. To the east over a porous and at points ill-defined 2,200km border lies Mali, which along with its Sahel region neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger is riven by violence from rebel groups. To tame the immense, mainly desert territory, Mauritania has turned to the dromedary camel – a handy navigator of sandy terrain which would defeat offroad vehicles. 'The nomadic group can be deployed in very remote or hard-to-reach areas to ensure the state has a presence there,' explained National Guard unit commander Col Moulaye al-Bashir. The strategy seems to be bearing some fruit. Mauritania has not suffered a rebel attack since 2011. Sidnq, a member of the Mehariste National Guard, posing for a portrait next to his camel, near the Malian border. — AFP Until a few years ago the desert riders' unit was in decline, numbering barely 50 men. However, since 2019 it has enjoyed a renaissance. Today, the 'Nomad Group' boasts some 150 riders, as well as a herd of 400 camels. The Meharists have been buoyed by a grant of several million euros from the European Union – which has an interest in maintaining Mauritania's stability in an otherwise unstable region, said one European diplomat. One particular morning, some 15 camelback troops out on exercise made their way between thorny bushes and the dunes. Guided by instructions bawled into a crackling walkie-talkie, the drill of the day was in how to use their drone to help them spot and arrest a cattle thief. The riders owe much to the one-humped dromedary, or Arabian camel. Indefatigable and able to go for several weeks without either eating or drinking, the dromedaries are essentially a Sahara 'sedan', joked Lt Col Ekar Sidi, who commands the group, which forms part of the National Guard. From atop his mount, Moulaye hailed the 'impression of freedom' the dromedaries afford the group of riders. 'For us men of the desert it really is just indispensable – we use it as a mount, for its milk, its meat.' More than 1,000km from the capital Nouakchott, in the landlocked region of Hodh Ech Chargui near the Malian border, the Meharists have the task of gathering intelligence. Hodh Ech Chargui has seen waves of people cross over from Mali, with the Mbera camp currently home to around 140,000 Malian refugees, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Many more are thought to live beyond the camp perimeter, fleeing both rebel fighters and the threat of abuse by the Malian army or their Russian mercenary allies. Much of the region's inhabitants are from nomadic tribes, who crisscross borders towards potential breeding grounds with their herds in tow. The Meharists' presence is just one way Mauritanian authorities are hoping to show the nomads that the state is there. In order to blend in, the mounted group were recruited from among the Bedouin tribes, while the riders attempt to build bridges with the desert's hardy inhabitants. 'By taking care of livestock, tracking down cattle thieves, finding lost animals which are returned to their owners – this is how the bond of trust is established,' explained Moulaye. Brig Mbeurik Massoud and his four men had meanwhile just set up camp for the night. Tea was served and a fire lit as the relative nighttime cool settled over the Sahara. Massoud has been patrolling the region since joining the guard in 1989. 'We have come to inform the population of what is happening at the level of the state. We give them treatment and provide medicine,' said Moulaye. Those wishing to cross the desert must do so along a series of wells built by the Mauritanian government at key points along the Meharists' patrol routes. 'Whoever controls the water points controls the desert,' mused Moulaye. Besides making it easier for the state and locals to track those attempting to make their way into Mauritania from Mali, the wells have also encouraged nomadic populations to settle down. During the inspection of one desert water tower, project engineer Adama Diallo proudly noted that: 'in 2017, there was not even a hut'. 'Today, there are 50 to 60 families. That's an achievement,' he said. Three months ago the government built a small medical facility, saving its inhabitants the several-hundred-kilometre trek to the nearest town. For life can be tough for the Bedouin who call these sandstorm-battered plateaus home, where temperatures can reach up to 50°C. 'Here, it is a long way from the main roads – we have no network, no cars, no shops,' lamented one local, Boddeh Woul Cheikd, a woman in her 50s, her face veiled. With Mauritania maintaining an ever-watchful eye on its citizens, the country's success in fighting insurgency cannot be attributed to the dromedary riders' presence alone, nor to development projects in its desert regions. Yet other Sahel region countries, including unrest-hit Chad and Niger, appear to have taken a keen interest in the Mauritanian approach. Moulaye said he hopes to soon train other Meharist units in the area and spread the joy of the 'Mauritanian experience' in the camel's saddle. — AFP
