On June 21, former presidential candidate and popular blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other Belarusian political prisoners were released following US mediation. The day after his release, he spoke about his political convictions at a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, with his wife, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Tsikhanouski told journalists that he can hardly believe he is free and he may not have survived if he'd had to spend 20 years in prison.

In 2021, the entrepreneur and blogger was sentenced to 18 years in a penal colony during a court trial held behind closed doors. Investigators accused the activist of organizing street protests in Belarus.

Known for his Telegram channel, "The Country for Life," Tsikhanouski had announced in May 2020 that he would run for president in the election on August 9, but was not allowed to do so. His wife ran instead.

Tsikhanouski was detained in Grodno on May 29, 2020, during a campaign event in support of his wife.

Held under the harshest prison conditions, Tsikhanouski said he was unable to see lawyers or priests. "For five years, I wasn't able to confess once," he said. "Not a single visit to the prison store to at least buy soap or a toothbrush. Other prisoners had to get them for me with great difficulty."

As a political prisoner,........

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