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Exclusive – Belarusian dissident Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who was free after more than five years as a political prisoner, is now calling on those who are still in prison to be released.
Before playing in a video message UN Human Rights Commission On Thursday, in Geneva, Tsikhanouski pleaded desperately for international intervention.
“I suffered, I was detained alone, I was frozen. I didn’t even write a few words. For years, I didn’t receive a letter, not even my daughter. They were filled with lying and propaganda in my ears. They tried to convince me that everyone had forgotten me, everyone had forgotten me. They were abused in Belarusian Prisons, not human abuse in the bar,” Tsikhanouski said in the video, which was fed to Fox News Digital by the United Nations Watch.
Siarhei Tsikhanouski calls for international action in a video message to the United Nations.
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Tsikhanouski believes that the international community (particularly the Trump administration) released his release, which was obtained after the envoys of Ukrainian and Russian generals in the United States. Except for Tsikhanouski, 13 other political prisoners were released through the United States.
Belarus dissident It is said in the video that he would not have lived without it being for “international solidarity” and “the efforts of the U.S. government.”
Belarusian opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski hugged his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in this screenshot taken from a social media video released on June 21, 2025 after he was released from prison. (Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya by X/via Reuters)
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In his first speech to the human rights situation in Berarus, Nils Muižnieks warned that the human rights situation “continues to deteriorate” since January 2025. He also noted that Belarusian authorities abused the “highly problematic” legislation, including prohibiting insults from the president or other public officials.
“There are many people in Berarus who shouldn’t be there, including opposition politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, independent trade union activists, environmental defenders and lawyers,” Muyisnix said before playing the video of Tsikhanouski. He also described the abuse of prisoners by Belarus authorities.
After hearing Tsikhanouski’s message, Muižnieks said the words of the recently recalled dissidents were “extra weight”.
After his release, Tsikhanouski was reunited in Lithuania with his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her children. Tsikhanouskaya is the exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition, and some countries believe they are elected president.
Tsikhanouskaya thanks the president Donald TrumpKellogg and the State Department’s efforts led to the freedom of the husband.
“My husband Siarhei is free! It’s hard to describe my inner joy.” Tsikhanouskaya Written on X. “We are not done yet. 1,150 political prisoners are still in prison. Everything must be released.”
Belarusian opposition activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski spoke in an interview with the Associated Press in Vilnius, Lithuania on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
Hillel Neuer, the UN Watch Executive Director, joined the call and saw the remaining 1,150 prisoners gained freedom.
“Siarhei Tsikhanouski is a symbol of courage, and he paid a heavy price to dare to challenge Lukashenko’s dictatorship. The United Nations is honored to give him the floor on the floor UN Human Rights Commission A few days after he was released from prison. His voice was silent by the regime for more than five years while he was tortured in prison and now tells the millions of Belarusians who continue to demand freedom and human rights. ” Neuer told Fox News Digital.
Neuer said Tsikhanouski’s message to the United Nations is a “direct challenge to a regime that continues to silence critics”.
A released Siarhei Tsikhanouski took a picture of himself before being held for more than five years. (Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya office by X)
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Thursday, June 26, also marks International Day in support of victims of torture. Tsikhanouskaya wrote on X to commemorate the occasion and shared a photo of the impact of the five-year prison term on her husband.
“Today is an international day to support victims of torture. My husband survived five years of isolation and cruelty in the prison of the Belarusian regime. Many others will still endure it. If we give up, Siarhei will not be free.
According to NPRTsikhanouski lost more than 41% of her body weight. He was jailed and weighed 298 pounds, but weighed 174 pounds when he was released on June 21.
In response to a request for comment to Tsikhanouski’s statement, UN Human Rights Commission spokesman Pascal Sim directed Fox News Digital to record the hearing, especially Muižnieks’ speech.
The UN Human Rights Office also directed Fox News Digital to Muižnieks’ statement.
