February 6, Pozirk. Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has not heard from her jailed husband Siarhiej Cichanoŭski for 700 days, she said on Telegram.
“The last time I heard my husband’s voice was more than four years ago. I was given only five minutes to support him, talk about our children and ask about his health,” the politician said.
“I’m convinced that he feels our support and that his inner strength is with him,” she added. “Despite this time without communication, he still shares that strength with me. We will not stop until Siarhiej and all political prisoners are free.”
Police arrested presidential hopeful Siarhiej Cichanoŭski weeks before the 2020 election. In late 2021, he was given 18 years in prison on a number of criminal charges, including organizing mass riots, inciting hatred and interfering in elections. Two years later, authorities added 18 months to his term for alleged misbehavior. Rights groups consider his persecution to be politically motivated.
Cichanoŭski has been held incommunicado since early March 2023.
Several other prominent jailed opposition activists and politicians are also held in similar conditions, including lawyer Maksim Znak, politician Mikałaj Statkievič, activist Uładzimir Kniha and anarchist Alaksandar Franckievič.
