By Andrius Sytas
VILNIUS (Reuters) -A leading Belarusian opposition figure, freed from prison by President Alexander Lukashenko, said on Sunday his wife would continue to lead the exiled movement, and urged supporters to keep fighting for change and the release of political prisoners.
In a U.S.-brokered deal, Siarhei Tsikhanouski was pardoned by Lukashenko on Saturday after more than five years' imprisonment and driven to Lithuania for a reunion with his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
"He's alive, thank God we are together, and together we continue our fight for our homeland and the freedom of the rest of the political prisoners," Tsikhanouskaya told a news conference in Vilnius on Sunday.
"I want to thank (U.S. President Donald) Trump and his administration. Without their help, this moment would have been impossible," she said.
Lithuania said on Saturday 13 other prisoners had also been released in the most significant move so far by Lukashenko to try to end his isolation from the West.
Tsikhanouski, 46, a video blogger who was arrested in 2020 when planning to run against Lukashenko for the presidency, called on Belarusians to carry on opposing the president.
"I want to tell all Belarusians: if you were waiting for a sign, here it is," he said, raising a fist.
DENIED CONTACT WITH FAMILY, LAWYER, PRIEST
Tsikhanouski, his head shaven, read poetry he wrote in prison and broke down in tears when describing conditions, including being denied contact with his family, a lawyer or a priest for several years.
He lost weight and said his health had been damaged by time in solitary confinement for minor infractions.
"This is inhumanity. This is a nightmare. You need to get these other people out as quickly as possible," he said.
He called on Trump to use his influence to free other political prisoners in Belarus, saying Trump only needed to ask.
"Trump can do it with one word. He can. Please," a tearful Tsikhanouski said.
Despite his release, Tsikhanouski said his wife would remain the leader of Belarus' exiled opposition.
"The leader of the opposition is Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, my wife," he said, breaking into tears as he described how their nine-year-old daughter had not recognised him when they were reunited on Saturday.
"Now (the children) are getting used to the feeling that their father is here again," Tsikhanouskaya said.
(Reporting by Andrius Sytas;Editing by Terje Solsvik, Helen Popper and Barbara Lewis)
