Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a blogger and political opposition figure from Belarus, who was arrested in May 2020 for announcing his candidacy in the presidential elections, recently expressed criticisms against his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and other Belarusian opposition entities in exile. Tsikhanouski, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in December 2021, was released after nearly five years in prison in June 2025 and transferred abroad.
Tsikhanouski's Criticism of Tsikhanouskaya
In the course of returning to his online activities, Tsikhanouski made sharp criticisms against Tsikhanouskaya, who ran as a presidential candidate in 2020 against Alexander Lukashenko. He claimed that Tsikhanouskaya acted as a "technical" candidate and that her percentage of votes in the 2020 election was negligible. He said: "Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had no support, and that is why she was allowed to run for candidacy."
Proposal for a New Oversight Body
Tsikhanouski also proposed the establishment of an oversight body under the title "Office of United Democratic Forces." He believes that this body should include prominent political figures and leaders of protests, including himself and his wife. He stated that this body could oversee the distribution of financial aid.
However, political analysts such as Yuri Drakakhrust pointed to a crisis among the democratic forces in Belarus and expressed concern that Tsikhanouski may not be able to reach an agreement with other proposed members of the oversight body. They also noted that Tsikhanouskaya has established significant resources and a high position for herself as a successful political leader.
Since the beginning of her political activities, Tsikhanouskaya has been recognized as a prominent leader and has been welcomed at high levels. Drakakhrust also stated that the Belarusian government is exploiting these disputes among the opposition with a humorous perspective and with the aim of escalating tensions.
