Belarusian opposition figure Syarhei Tsikhanouski, who was recently released from a Belarus jail, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki
VILNIUS (Reuters) -The West needs to keep up pressure on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to try to force democratic change, newly released dissident Siarhei Tsikhanouski told Reuters.
Tsikhanouski, who walked free last month after more than five years in prison, said now was not the time to contemplate easing sanctions on Lukashenko, a Russian ally who has ruled the former Soviet state for 31 years.
