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EXCLUSIVE: ‘I don’t have a right to be sad’ – Belarusian opposition leader

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Senior Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Franak Viačorka, details the moment the Belarusian opposition leader found out her husband has been jailed 

The husband of the Belarusian opposition leader has been jailed for 18 years at a high-security penal colony.

The sentence follows a trial that largely took place behind closed doors, with the individual convicted of “organising mass riots” and inciting social hostility.

The verdict can be appealed within 10 days, with critics saying the convictions were politically motivated.

Three others were also sent to prison for similar charges, and will spend more than a decade behind bars.

The husband of the opposition leader was arrested back in 2020 after declaring his own candidacy for president, with his wife standing in his place as a result.

She went on to lose to current leader Alexander Lukashenko and claimed the result was rigged through the use of ballot stuffing and other corrupt measures.

Belarusian opposition leader senior advisor details the moment she found out her husband has been jailed 

“It was shocking. You are never prepared for the moment when your husband is sentenced to 18 years in prison,”

Viačorka told ticker news

“I remember that moment. It was just in the middle of conversation with European politicians. I was unlucky to inform her about this. So she stopped for a second and then she continued talking. Later I asked how she felt and she said that, you know I don’t have a right to to be sad or to cry. I just have to work harder.”

Ticker’s Holly Stearnes asked the political advisor “If she could give one message to our audience and to the world out this difficult time when her husband has just been jailed a sentence of 18 years, what would it be?”

“Fight for freedom. I appreciate democracy. When you’re leaving democracy, it’s very difficult to understand its value, and it’s very easy to lose freedom and democracy… but it’s very hard to fight back for it”

Viačorka details Tsikhanouskaya message

The husband of the Belarusian opposition leader has been handed one of the longest jail terms in modern Belarusian history

Viačorka says Tsikhanouskaya is not a traditional leader and she’s still influencing situation inside of the country.

“There are 1000s of volunteers. There are dozens of underground printed houses every day, there are protests of women and students. They’re not so massive and not so visualised as last year but protest resistance continues,” he details.

“We’re just jumped back, you know, from authoritarianism, to style in time, totalitarianism, with no freedom with 1000s of political prisoners, and it’s very difficult to protest.”

However, Viačorka says Tsikhanouskaya healthcare plan is most important and what it can do to mobilise international community EU, US, Canada, UK.

“A few days ago, she met ambassadors, also Australian and New Zealand ambassadors were present,

“It’s very important their initial community speaks with one voice in support of Belarus, democratic forces,”

he says.

Is this a revenge verdict?

Viačorka says the verdict is personal revenge of Lukashenko, because he was a YouTube blogger.

“He was not a popular politician. He was not planning to be the candidate for president before April or May last year. But suddenly his subscribers on YouTube said you have to run. And Lukashenko was very angry with this because no one really challenged him before this way,” Viačorka says.

Is democracy likely in Belarus?

Viačorka says there are “Soviet nostalgic people” who wants to live in back in the USSR, who likes to have the strong man ruling the country. “Always there are such people, but the majority wants changes.”

Hey says there are doubts, but research shows that they are ready for democracy.

“But despite the government and Belarusian showed clearly that they already fight for human rights fight for rule of law, fight for justice,” Viačorka says.

“I think Lukashenko is not forever, he’s losing his grip, he is not in control even of his own people,

“So think in the next few months, we will see developments. And perhaps this developments will come from people around Lukashenko. This is why he’s so afraid of betrayal.”

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LIVE: U.S. bombs Iranian nuclear sites

Trump confirms U.S. B2 bombers targeted three Iranian nuclear sites.

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Trump confirms U.S. B2 bombers targeted three Iranian nuclear sites.


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President Trump confirms U.S. B2 bombers targeted three nuclear sites in Iran.

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Trump confirms U.S. strikes on Iran as Israel targets top Iranian leaders

Trump confirms U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites amid rising tensions; Israel intensifies operations, Iran vows to continue enrichment, and Houthi militants threaten U.S. shipping.

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Trump confirms U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites amid rising tensions; Israel intensifies operations, Iran vows to continue enrichment, and Houthi militants threaten U.S. shipping.


President Trump has confirmed that U.S. forces successfully struck three nuclear facilities in Iran – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan – with all aircraft safely exiting Iranian airspace. The mission, involving B-2 stealth bombers, comes amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its military operations, killing three top Iranian military leaders and striking a major nuclear facility in Isfahan. The Israeli chief of staff warned the operation may lead to a prolonged and complex war.

Iran responded by vowing to continue uranium enrichment and said talks with the U.S. are off the table unless Israel halts its attacks. In a parallel move, Houthi militants threatened U.S. and commercial ships in the Red Sea if American strikes continue in support of Israel.

Adding to the volatility, an Iranian drone hit northern Israel, with the IDF confirming the incident—though no casualties were reported. The U.S. State Department is now organising flights to evacuate Americans from Israel.

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Trump announces U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites

Trump announces successful U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, while Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iranian leadership.

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Trump announces successful U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, while Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iranian leadership.

In Short:
President Trump announced U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, confirming all aircraft left Iranian airspace after the operation. Meanwhile, Israel ramped up its military actions against Iran, leading to warnings from Iranian officials and Houthi militants regarding potential escalations.

President Trump announced on Saturday that the United States had successfully completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

In a social media post, he confirmed all U.S. aircraft had exited Iranian airspace following the operation.

This military action was preceded by the deployment of stealth B-2 bombers from Missouri, capable of carrying the GBU-57 bunker buster, a powerful weapon considered effective against the Fordow uranium-enrichment facility.

Trump had earlier indicated to senior aides that he approved attack plans for Iran, awaiting Tehran’s decision on its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military intensified its operations against Iranian military leaders and nuclear sites, announcing the elimination of three senior Iranian figures and strikes on the Isfahan facility. Israel’s military chief warned of a potentially prolonged conflict, describing it as the nation’s most complex military undertaking.

In response, Iranian officials stated their refusal to halt uranium enrichment and indicated that negotiations with the U.S. would only occur if Israel ceased its attacks.

Additionally, the U.S. State Department announced the initiation of flights to facilitate the return of American citizens from Israel.

Houthi militants also issued a warning to target U.S. and commercial vessels in the Red Sea should American attacks in support of Israel commence.

Amidst this, an Iranian drone attack recently damaged a building in northern Israel, marking an acknowledged drone strike by the Israeli military during the ongoing conflict. No casualties were reported from the incident.

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