Latest news with #anti-Lukashenko
San Francisco Chronicle
24-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Latest: Trump at NATO wants allies — not US — to hike spending to 5%
President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One to the NATO conference, has sought to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and said he's not seeking regime change in Tehran. U.S. intelligence leaders will provide classified briefings as Congress prepares to debate whether to invoke the War Powers Act restraining Trump. The Supreme Court, without explanation, is allowing President Donald Trump to deport migrants away from home countries. The dissenting liberal justices warned that the court's action exposes ' thousands to the risk of torture or death.' NATO leaders are expected to endorse a new defense spending pledge Trump heads to a two-day NATO summit in Europe laden with uncertainty. Iran's response to U.S. air strikes, the fate of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the future of U.S. troops based in NATO countries are all up in the air. President Donald Trump's first appearance at NATO since returning to the White House was supposed to center on how the U.S. secured a historic military spending pledge of 5% GDP from each nation in the defensive alliance — with some exceptions. But the spotlight is now on Trump's attempts to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The sharp U-turn in hostilities just hours before he departed for the summit is sure to dominate the discussions in The Hague, Netherlands. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader visits NATO summit Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has visited the NATO summit, days after her husband was released from five years of solitary confinement following a meeting between President Alexander Lukashenko and Trump's envoy for Ukraine in Minsk. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking U.S. official in years to visit Belarus, Moscow's close and dependent ally. Siarhei Tsihanouski, a popular blogger and activist who was imprisoned in 2020, was freed along with 13 other political prisoners over the weekend. Known for his anti-Lukashenko slogan 'stop the cockroach,' the 46-year-old was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the strongman in the 2020 election and shortly before the campaign began. Tsikhanouskaya met with Dutch caretaker Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on the sidelines of the two-day meeting in the Netherlands. Veldkamp called for the release of the 'countless other political prisoners' still in captivity. NATO leaders to agree on historic spending pledge, but the hike won't apply to all The head of the NATO military alliance warned Monday that no country could have an opt-out from a massive new hike in defense spending, and that progress they make toward reaching the new target will be reviewed in four years. At a summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, NATO leaders are expected to endorse a goal of spending 5% of their gross domestic product on their security, to be able to fulfil the alliance's plans for defending against outside attack. 'NATO has no opt-out, and NATO does no side deals,' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters in The Hague. 'It is critical that each ally carries their fair share of the burden.' However, Spain said that it has reached a deal with NATO to be excluded from the 5% target, while President Donald Trump said the figure shouldn't apply to the United States, only its allies. US Secret Service is maintaining a greater presence near White House The Secret Service said it has taken an enhanced security posture on 17th Street near the White House following the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The roving patrols that were already in effect now have a more visible presence with vehicles being kept in place, said a Secret Service spokesperson who insisted on anonymity to discuss the decision. The greater public visibility on the streets surrounding the White House began Monday before Iran retaliated for the strikes by attacking a U.S. base in Qatar. What cases are left on the Supreme Court's emergency docket? Trump administration lawyers have filed emergency appeals with the nation's highest court a little less than once a week on average since the president began his second term, though the pace of new filings has slowed recently. The court is not being asked to render a final decision but rather to set the rules of the road while the case makes its way through the courts. The justices have issued orders in 14 cases so far. The Trump administration has won more than it has lost, including on Monday when the high court allowed the resumption of swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands. Justices allow Trump to restart swift deportation of migrants away from home countries A divided Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to restart swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands, as Trump continues his sweeping immigration crackdown that has sparked widespread protests, high-profile detentions and various court challenges. The majority's action, issued without explanation, lifts for now a court order requiring they get a chance to challenge the deportations. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston had found the administration had violated his order by sending eight people to South Sudan in May. The migrants had been convicted of serious crimes in the U.S. and immigration officials have said they were unable to return them quickly to their home countries. Authorities instead landed the plane at a U.S. naval base in Djibouti. All three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing that the court's action exposes ' thousands to the risk of torture or death.' House Speaker opposes War Powers resolution Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said there would be a classified briefing for House members Tuesday afternoon. Johnson, who said he had a classified briefing Monday morning about Iran, said he is opposed to a debate and vote on a use-of-force resolution. 'I don't think this is an appropriate time for a War Powers resolution. And I don't think it's necessary,' Johnson told reporters Monday. He said Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama exercised their authority as commander-in-chief in ordering operations in the Middle East. He said Democratic lawmakers didn't object then. 'Suddenly, now, they are just up in arms,' Johnson said. 'It's all politics. This is not a time for politics.' Trump will soon face a congressional vote over his military powers While the president has authority as the commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces to order specific military actions, any prolonged war-time footing would traditionally need authorization from Congress. The House and Senate authorized actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack. Trump faces a vote in Congress as soon as this week on a war powers resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would 'direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.'
Winnipeg Free Press
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Latest: Trump at NATO wants allies – not US – to hike spending to 5%
President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One to the NATO conference, has sought to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and said he's not seeking regime change in Tehran. U.S. intelligence leaders will provide classified briefings as Congress prepares to debate whether to invoke the War Powers Act restraining Trump. The Supreme Court, without explanation, is allowing President Donald Trump to deport migrants away from home countries. The dissenting liberal justices warned that the court's action exposes ' thousands to the risk of torture or death.' Here's the Latest: NATO leaders are expected to endorse a new defense spending pledge Trump heads to a two-day NATO summit in Europe laden with uncertainty. Iran's response to U.S. air strikes, the fate of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the future of U.S. troops based in NATO countries are all up in the air. President Donald Trump's first appearance at NATO since returning to the White House was supposed to center on how the U.S. secured a historic military spending pledge of 5% GDP from each nation in the defensive alliance — with some exceptions. But the spotlight is now on Trump's attempts to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The sharp U-turn in hostilities just hours before he departed for the summit is sure to dominate the discussions in The Hague, Netherlands. ▶ Read updates about the Israel-Iran war Exiled Belarusian opposition leader visits NATO summit Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has visited the NATO summit, days after her husband was released from five years of solitary confinement following a meeting between President Alexander Lukashenko and Trump's envoy for Ukraine in Minsk. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking U.S. official in years to visit Belarus, Moscow's close and dependent ally. Siarhei Tsihanouski, a popular blogger and activist who was imprisoned in 2020, was freed along with 13 other political prisoners over the weekend. Known for his anti-Lukashenko slogan 'stop the cockroach,' the 46-year-old was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the strongman in the 2020 election and shortly before the campaign began. Tsikhanouskaya met with Dutch caretaker Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on the sidelines of the two-day meeting in the Netherlands. Veldkamp called for the release of the 'countless other political prisoners' still in captivity. NATO leaders to agree on historic spending pledge, but the hike won't apply to all The head of the NATO military alliance warned Monday that no country could have an opt-out from a massive new hike in defense spending, and that progress they make toward reaching the new target will be reviewed in four years. At a summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, NATO leaders are expected to endorse a goal of spending 5% of their gross domestic product on their security, to be able to fulfil the alliance's plans for defending against outside attack. 'NATO has no opt-out, and NATO does no side deals,' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters in The Hague. 'It is critical that each ally carries their fair share of the burden.' However, Spain said that it has reached a deal with NATO to be excluded from the 5% target, while President Donald Trump said the figure shouldn't apply to the United States, only its allies. US Secret Service is maintaining a greater presence near White House The Secret Service said it has taken an enhanced security posture on 17th Street near the White House following the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The roving patrols that were already in effect now have a more visible presence with vehicles being kept in place, said a Secret Service spokesperson who insisted on anonymity to discuss the decision. The greater public visibility on the streets surrounding the White House began Monday before Iran retaliated for the strikes by attacking a U.S. base in Qatar. — Associated Press Reporter Joshua Boak. What cases are left on the Supreme Court's emergency docket? Trump administration lawyers have filed emergency appeals with the nation's highest court a little less than once a week on average since the president began his second term, though the pace of new filings has slowed recently. The court is not being asked to render a final decision but rather to set the rules of the road while the case makes its way through the courts. The justices have issued orders in 14 cases so far. The Trump administration has won more than it has lost, including on Monday when the high court allowed the resumption of swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands. Justices allow Trump to restart swift deportation of migrants away from home countries A divided Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to restart swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands, as Trump continues his sweeping immigration crackdown that has sparked widespread protests, high-profile detentions and various court challenges. The majority's action, issued without explanation, lifts for now a court order requiring they get a chance to challenge the deportations. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston had found the administration had violated his order by sending eight people to South Sudan in May. The migrants had been convicted of serious crimes in the U.S. and immigration officials have said they were unable to return them quickly to their home countries. Authorities instead landed the plane at a U.S. naval base in Djibouti. All three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing that the court's action exposes ' thousands to the risk of torture or death.' House Speaker opposes War Powers resolution Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said there would be a classified briefing for House members Tuesday afternoon. Johnson, who said he had a classified briefing Monday morning about Iran, said he is opposed to a debate and vote on a use-of-force resolution. 'I don't think this is an appropriate time for a War Powers resolution. And I don't think it's necessary,' Johnson told reporters Monday. He said Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama exercised their authority as commander-in-chief in ordering operations in the Middle East. He said Democratic lawmakers didn't object then. 'Suddenly, now, they are just up in arms,' Johnson said. 'It's all politics. This is not a time for politics.' Trump will soon face a congressional vote over his military powers While the president has authority as the commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces to order specific military actions, any prolonged war-time footing would traditionally need authorization from Congress. The House and Senate authorized actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack. Trump faces a vote in Congress as soon as this week on a war powers resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would 'direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.' Another resolution has been introduced by lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. House. At least one Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, said Trump's actions are 'clearly grounds for impeachment.'
Associated Press
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Live updates: NATO leaders are expected to endorse a new defense spending pledge
President Donald Trump's first appearance at NATO since returning to the White House was supposed to center on how the U.S. secured a historic military spending pledge of 5% GDP from each nation in the defensive alliance — with some exceptions. But the spotlight is now on Trump's attempts to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The sharp U-turn in hostilities just hours before he departed for the summit is sure to dominate the discussions in The Hague, Netherlands. ▶ Read updates about the Israel-Iran war Update: Date: 2025-06-24 11:58:00 Title: Ask AP reporters a question Content: Update: Date: 2025-06-24 11:55:10 Title: Exiled Belarusian opposition leader visits NATO summit Content: Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has visited the NATO summit, days after her husband was released from five years of solitary confinement. The release came just hours after Belarusian authorities announced that authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko met with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine in Minsk. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking U.S. official in years to visit Belarus, Moscow's close and dependent ally. Tsikhanouskaya met with Dutch caretaker Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on the sidelines of the two-day meeting in the Netherlands. Veldkamp called for the release of the 'countless other political prisoners' still in captivity. Tsikhanouski, a popular blogger and activist who was imprisoned in 2020, was freed along with 13 other political prisoners over the weekend. Known for his anti-Lukashenko slogan 'stop the cockroach,' the 46-year-old was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the strongman in the 2020 election and shortly before the campaign began. Update: Date: 2025-06-24 11:46:34 Title: NATO leaders are set to agree on a historic defense spending pledge, but the hike won't apply to all Content: The head of the NATO military alliance warned Monday that no country could have an opt-out from a massive new hike in defense spending, and that progress they make toward reaching the new target will be reviewed in four years. At a summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, NATO leaders are expected to endorse a goal of spending 5% of their gross domestic product on their security, to be able to fulfil the alliance's plans for defending against outside attack. 'NATO has no opt-out, and NATO does no side deals,' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters in The Hague. 'It is critical that each ally carries their fair share of the burden.' However, Spain said that it has reached a deal with NATO to be excluded from the 5% target, while President Donald Trump said the figure shouldn't apply to the United States, only its allies. ▶ Read more about the NATO summit
The Hill
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Freed from prison, Belarusian dissident Tsikhanouski tells AP about 5 years in solitary confinement
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Siarhei Tsikhanouski is almost unrecognizable. Belarus' key opposition figure, imprisoned in 2020 and unexpectedly released on Saturday, once weighed 135 kilograms (298 pounds) at 1.92 meters (nearly 6'4') tall, but now is at just 79 kilos (174 pounds). On Saturday, Tsikhnaouski was freed alongside 13 other prisoners and brought to Vilnius, the capital of neighboring Lithuania, where he was reunited with his wife, exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and their children. Speaking to The Associated Press the day after, Tsikhanouski tries to smile and joke, but struggles to hold back heavy sighs recalling what he endured behind bars. 'This is definitely torture,' Tsikhanouski told The Associated Press in the first sit-down interview since his release. Prison officials 'kept telling me: 'You will be here not just for the 20 years we've already given you.' We will convict you again,'' he said. 'They told me that 'You would never get out.' And they kept repeating: 'You will die here.'' One of Belarus's most prominent opposition figures, Tsikhanouski said he 'almost forgot how to speak' during his years in solitary confinement. He was held in complete isolation, denied medical care, and given barely enough food. 'If you had seen me when they threw only two spoons of porridge onto my plate, two small spoons …' he said, adding that he couldn't buy anything anything in the prison kiosk. 'They would sometimes give me a little tube of toothpaste, a little piece of soap as charity. Sometimes they would, sometimes they wouldn't.' Now 46, Tsikhanouski, a popular blogger and activist, was freed just hours after Belarusian authorities announced that authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko met with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking U.S. official in years to visit Belarus, Moscow's close and dependent ally. Tsikhanouski, known for his anti-Lukashenko slogan 'stop the cockroach,' was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the strongman in the 2020 election and shortly before the campaign began. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months on charges widely seen as politically motivated. His wife ran in his stead, rallying crowds across the country. Official results handed Lukashenko his sixth term in office but were denounced by the opposition and the West as a sham. Lukashenko has since tightened his grip, securing a seventh term in disputed January 2025 elections. Since mid-2024, his government has pardoned nearly 300 prisoners — including U.S. citizens — in what analysts see as an attempt to mend ties with the West. Tsikhanouski credited U.S. President Donald Trump with aiding his release. 'I thank Donald Trump endlessly,' Tsikhanouski said. 'They (the Belarusian authorities) want Trump to at least, a little bit, somewhere, to meet them halfway. They are ready to release them all. All of them!' Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets in the aftermath of the August 2020 vote. Thousands were detained, many beaten by police. Prominent opposition figures either fled the country or were imprisoned. At least 1,177 political prisoners remain in custody, according to Viasna, the oldest and most prominent human rights group in Belarus. Among them is Viasna's founder, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. Also behind bars are Viktor Babaryka, a former banker who was widely seen in 2020 as Lukashenko's main electoral rival, and Maria Kolesnikova, a close ally of Tsikhanouskaya and charismatic leader of that year's mass protests. Tsikhanouski called his release 'a dream that's still hard to believe.' On Saturday, he said, guards removed him from a KGB pretrial detention center, put a black bag over his head, and handcuffed him before transporting him in a minibus. He and other prisoners had no idea where they were going. 'To be honest, I still can't believe it. I was afraid I'd wake up and everything would still be the same. I don't believe it, I still don't believe it,' he said, pausing frequently and wiping away tears. Tsikhanouski's children — his daughter, aged 9, and 15-year-old son — didn't recognize him when they were reunited. 'We came in and my wife said to my daughter, 'Your dad has arrived,'' he said, crying. 'At first she couldn't understand, and then she rushed in — she was crying, I was crying … for a very long time. My son too! These are emotions that cannot be described.' Tsikhanouski, who says his health has deteriorated behind bars, plans to undergo a medical examination in Lithuania. He says cold and hunger were 'the main causes of illness' that affected nearly all political prisoners in Belarus, who were subjected to 'especially harsh conditions.' 'There were skin diseases, and everyone had kidney problems from the cold — and no one really understood what was happening,' Tsikhanouski said. 'Blood came out of my mouth, from my nose. Sometimes I had convulsions — but it was all because of the cold, that terrible cold when you sit in those punishment cells.' 'There is no medical care in prison — none at all, just so you know …' he said. Tsikhanouski said conditions slightly improved after the February 2024 death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prison colony. 'When Alexei Navalny died, I thought, that'll probably be me soon … And then something changed. It was clear that someone at the top said, 'Make sure he doesn't die here. We don't need that problem.' It got just a bit softer … At some point, word came down: Tsikhanouski must be kept alive, not killed.' Tsikhanouski blames Russian President Vladimir Putin for propping up Lukashenko, both during the 2020 protests and to this day. Russia supports Belarus's economy with loans and subsidized oil and gas. In return, Belarus has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch troops and weapons into Ukraine, and hosts Russian forces and nuclear weapons. Tsikhanouski expressed strong support for Ukraine, calling the Kremlin a common evil for both countries. 'If it weren't for Putin, we would already be living in a different country. Putin recognized Lukashenko's victory in the election, he called black white. That is, he refused to see the falsifications,' Tsikhanouski said. 'They help each other. Because of Putin, this illegal government is still in Belarus.' Some analysts have speculated that by releasing the charismatic and energetic Tsikhanouski, Belarusian authorities may be trying to sow division within the opposition. But Tsikhanouski insists he has no intention of challenging his wife's role as the internationally recognized head of the Belarusian opposition, and he calls for unity. 'Under no circumstances do I plan to criticize any Belarusians, condemn or complain about anyone,' he said. Tsikhanouski says he will not stop fighting and wants to return to active work as both a political figure and a blogger. But he is skeptical that Lukashenko, now 70, will step down voluntarily, despite his age. 'I don't know anymore — will he go or won't he?' Tsikhanouski said. 'Many people say nothing will change until he dies. But I'm still counting on democratic forces winning.' ___ Associated Press journalists Elise Morton in London, and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Emaciated after 5 years in prison, Belarusian dissident Tsikhanouski vows to fight on
AP image VILNIUS: Siarhei Tsikhanouski is almost unrecognisable. Belarus' key opposition figure, imprisoned in 2020 and unexpectedly released on Saturday, once weighed 135 kilograms at nearly 6'4" tall, but now is at just 79 kilos. O n Saturday, Tsikhnaouski was freed alongside 13 other prisoners and brought to Vilnius, the capital of neighbouring Lithuania, where he was reunited with his wife, exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and their children. Speaking to The Associated Press the day after, Tsikhanouski tries to smile and joke, but struggles to hold back heavy sighs recalling what he endured behind bars. "This is definitely torture," Tsikhanouski told The Associated Press in the first sit-down interview since his release. Prison officials "kept telling me: You will be here not just for the 20 years we've already given you.' We will convict you again,'" he said. "They told me that 'You would never get out.' And they kept repeating: You will die here.'" One of Belarus's most prominent opposition figures, Tsikhanouski said he "almost forgot how to speak" during his years in solitary confinement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Speel gratis in je browser – Geen download of installatie nodig! Taonga Farm Nu afspelen Undo He was held in complete isolation, denied medical care, and given barely enough food. "If you had seen me when they threw only two spoons of porridge onto my plate, two small spoons ..." he said, adding that he couldn't buy anything anything in the prison kiosk. "They would sometimes give me a little tube of toothpaste, a little piece of soap as charity. Sometimes they would, sometimes they wouldn't." A prominent voice of dissent Now 46, Tsikhanouski, a popular blogger and activist, was freed just hours after Belarusian authorities announced that authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko met with US President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking US official in years to visit Belarus, Moscow's close and dependent ally. Tsikhanouski, known for his anti-Lukashenko slogan "stop the cockroach," was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the strongman in the 2020 election and shortly before the campaign began. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months on charges widely seen as politically motivated. His wife ran in his stead, rallying crowds across the country. Official results handed Lukashenko his sixth term in office but were denounced by the opposition and the West as a sham. Lukashenko has since tightened his grip, securing a seventh term in disputed January 2025 elections. Since mid-2024, his government has pardoned nearly 300 prisoners - including US citizens - in what analysts see as an attempt to mend ties with the West. Tsikhanouski credited US President Donald Trump with aiding his release. "I thank Donald Trump endlessly," Tsikhanouski said. "They (the Belarusian authorities) want Trump to at least, a little bit, somewhere, to meet them halfway. They are ready to release them all. All of them!" Many are still behind bars Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets in the aftermath of the August 2020 vote. Thousands were detained, many beaten by police. Prominent opposition figures either fled the country or were imprisoned. At least 1,177 political prisoners remain in custody, according to Viasna, the oldest and most prominent human rights group in Belarus. Among them is Viasna's founder, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. Also behind bars are Viktor Babaryka, a former banker who was widely seen in 2020 as Lukashenko's main electoral rival, and Maria Kolesnikova, a close ally of Tsikhanouskaya and charismatic leader of that year's mass protests. A surprise release and an emotional reunion Tsikhanouski called his release "a dream that's still hard to believe." On Saturday, he said, guards removed him from a KGB pretrial detention centre, put a black bag over his head, and handcuffed him before transporting him in a minibus. He and other prisoners had no idea where they were going. "To be honest, I still can't believe it. I was afraid I'd wake up and everything would still be the same. I don't believe it, I still don't believe it," he said, pausing frequently and wiping away tears. Tsikhanouski's children - his daughter, aged 9, and 15-year-old son - didn't recognise him when they were reunited. "We came in and my wife said to my daughter, Your dad has arrived,'" he said, crying. "At first she couldn't understand, and then she rushed in - she was crying, I was crying ... for a very long time. My son too! These are emotions that cannot be described." Tsikhanouski, who says his health has deteriorated behind bars, plans to undergo a medical examination in Lithuania. He says cold and hunger were "the main causes of illness" that affected nearly all political prisoners in Belarus, who were subjected to "especially harsh conditions." "There were skin diseases, and everyone had kidney problems from the cold - and no one really understood what was happening," Tsikhanouski said. "Blood came out of my mouth, from my nose. Sometimes I had convulsions - but it was all because of the cold, that terrible cold when you sit in those punishment cells." "There is no medical care in prison - none at all, just so you know ..." he said. Tsikhanouski said conditions slightly improved after the February 2024 death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prison colony. "When Alexei Navalny died, I thought, that'll probably be me soon ... And then something changed. It was clear that someone at the top said, Make sure he doesn't die here. We don't need that problem.' It got just a bit softer ... At some point, word came down: Tsikhanouski must be kept alive, not killed." Pointing the finger at Putin Tsikhanouski blames Russian President Vladimir Putin for propping up Lukashenko, both during the 2020 protests and to this day. Russia supports Belarus's economy with loans and subsidised oil and gas. In return, Belarus has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch troops and weapons into Ukraine, and hosts Russian forces and nuclear weapons. Tsikhanouski expressed strong support for Ukraine, calling the Kremlin a common evil for both countries. "If it weren't for Putin, we would already be living in a different country. Putin recognised Lukashenko's victory in the election, he called black white. That is, he refused to see the falsifications," Tsikhanouski said. "They help each other. Because of Putin, this illegal government is still in Belarus." Some analysts have speculated that by releasing the charismatic and energetic Tsikhanouski, Belarusian authorities may be trying to sow division within the opposition. But Tsikhanouski insists he has no intention of challenging his wife's role as the internationally recognized head of the Belarusian opposition, and he calls for unity. "Under no circumstances do I plan to criticise any Belarusians, condemn or complain about anyone," he said. Tsikhanouski says he will not stop fighting and wants to return to active work as both a political figure and a blogger. But he is skeptical that Lukashenko, now 70, will step down voluntarily, despite his age. "I don't know anymore - will he go or won't he?" Tsikhanouski said. "Many people say nothing will change until he dies. But I'm still counting on democratic forces winning."
