Sarah Rainsford speaks to Belarussian opposition activist Sergei Tikhanovsky about his imprisonment after challenging the country’s authoritarian leader, President Lukashenko.

Tikhanovsky had planned to run against the Belarussian leader in the 2020 presidential election, but was detained before the vote.

A year later, he was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison, convicted on charges of organising mass protests against President Lukashenko. His trial was condemned as a sham by international observers.

Tikhanovsky’s wife, Svetlana, stood in for him in the 2020 election. But the day after Lukashenko claimed a disputed victory, she fled to Lithuania with her children fearing for her safety. In her absence, she was convicted by a Belarussian court on charges including high-treason and conspiracy to seize power.

Tikhanovsky is now reunited with his family in Lithuania, where he is living in enforced exile following his release from prison.

Thank you to Sarah Rainsford, Davide Ghiglione and Franceso Tosto for their help in making this programme.

Presenter: Sarah Rainsford

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(Image: Sergei Tikhanovsky. Credit: Valda Kalnina/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)