Tsikhanouski publicly attacks wife Tsikhanouskaya, exposing rift in Belarusian opposition in exile
Belarusian opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski, freed from prison in 2025, is criticizing his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her office in livestreams. A political scientist calls the situation a crisis for the democratic forces.
Belarusian blogger and dissident Siarhei Tsikhanouski, 48, is publicly criticizing his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the recognized leader of Belarus's democratic movement in exile. He does so on his YouTube channel, which he reactivated about 14 months after his release from prison. A political scientist describes the situation as a crisis for the democratic forces.
Background
In May 2020, Tsikhanouski was detained after announcing he would challenge Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential election. In December 2021 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison, partly for organizing "mass unrest." His wife took his place as a candidate. Lukashenko was declared the winner in August 2020 despite allegations of large-scale vote-rigging, which sparked mass protests. They were violently suppressed, and thousands of critics were arrested or fled abroad. Tsikhanouskaya also left the country. In June 2025, Tsikhanouski was released after nearly five years and forcibly taken out of Belarus.
Criticism and proposal
In his streams, Tsikhanouski attacks not only Lukashenko's regime but also his wife's office, exiled Belarusian media and political analysts. He says Tsikhanouskaya has some legitimacy from the European Union but none from people living in Belarus. He calls her a "technical candidate" who was allowed to run because she posed no threat to the regime.
He proposes a supervisory board called the "United Office of Democratic Forces," made up of former presidential candidates, protest leaders and iconic figures of the revolution, including himself and his wife. It could oversee the distribution of grant funds.
Reactions
Asked by DW about his goals, Tsikhanouski declined to comment. He lives in the US and says he is currently unemployed. His children attend school in Poland, where Tsikhanouskaya lives. She and her office have not commented on his allegations; in December 2025 she said family matters would be settled privately.
Political scientist Yury Drakakhrust says Tsikhanouski insists he was the key figure of 2020, but there is no way back. He notes that Tsikhanouskaya has gained international recognition and resources that other 2020 campaign participants have not.
