At the American embassy in Vilnius, Tsikhanouskaya was taken aback by her husband’s condition. Siarhei had lost a significant amount of weight, and he mentioned to friends that he had forgotten how to speak while in prison. Their daughter initially did not recognize him.
“When he began speaking, she recognized only his voice,” Tsikhanouskaya said. “There were tears and hugs, but prison alters people significantly. Faces are gray, they look very skinny.”
Tsikhanouskaya remains uncertain why the regime released her husband. However, Lukashenko often frees prisoners to gain international credibility. Relations with the former Biden administration were particularly tense; now, senior White House officials have visited Minsk to meet with the Belarusian leader.
As the White House increases its engagement in Belarus, she wishes to ensure the Trump administration is ready to reject Lukashenko’s attempts to gain legitimacy.
Tsikhanouskaya appeals to Trump’s legacy: Belarus could become “President Trump’s foreign policy success story” if he and America’s allies prevent the country from becoming a consolation prize to Russia in negotiations to end the Ukraine war, she stated.
“I trust that American partners… understand who they’re dealing with,” Tsikhanouskaya expressed.













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