Svetlana Tikhanovskaya

Sergei Tikhanovsky was kept isolated in bare, tiny cells and tells the BBC that Belarus must free other political prisoners.

After his unexpected release, Sergei Tikhanovsky broke down describing his five years in solitary confinement

Sergei Tikhanovsky had planned to challenge Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 election, but was detained before the vote.

Since the protests in 2020 the Lukashenko government has brutally repressed political opponents.

Viktor Babaryko was arrested in 2020 after challenging authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko at the polls.

Dozens of prisoners were freed unexpectedly this summer, now relatives are hoping more will follow.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled after elections she is widely thought to have won, gets 15 years.