The Belarusian regime is “no longer looking” for opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled abroad for fear of persecution.
Authorities have removed her from the most wanted list, according to media based on the Russian Interior Ministry.
Russia, the neighbouring country and only ally of Belarus, also removed Tikhanovskaya from the wanted list. According to the Russians, Belarus’ decision follows the arrest of another dissident, the journalist Roman Protasevich.
He was on a Ryanair plane that, when it flew over Belarus, was forced to land in Minsk by the authorities so that he could be arrested.
Protasevich was called up for a press conference on Monday. A Tikhanovskaya adviser called the imprisoned dissident a hostage presented as a sort of “trophy”. Tikhanovskaya himself went into exile last year when President Lukashenko cracked down on protesters who accused him of rigging the presidential election.
Lukashenko was re-elected, but according to Tikhanovskaya supporters, she is the real winner.
