Fact Check: Syarhei Tsikhanouski freed after nearly five years in Belarusian jail!

Fact Check: "Syarhei Tsikhanouski freed after nearly five years in Belarusian jail!"

What We Know

Syarhei Tsikhanouski, a prominent Belarusian opposition leader, was arrested in May 2020 after announcing his candidacy for the presidential elections against the long-standing president Alexander Lukashenko. He was subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison for charges widely regarded as politically motivated (BBC). Recent reports indicate that he has been released from prison, as confirmed by his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, in a post on social media (Reuters, AP News). However, the claim that he has been "freed after nearly five years" is misleading, as he was sentenced in December 2021 and the timeline does not align with the claim of a five-year imprisonment.

Analysis

The claim that Tsikhanouski was freed after nearly five years in jail is false based on the timeline of his imprisonment. He was arrested in May 2020 and sentenced in December 2021, which means he has not served five years in prison. The recent reports of his release do confirm that he is no longer incarcerated, but they do not support the claim regarding the duration of his imprisonment (Reuters, AP News).

Furthermore, the sources reporting his release, such as Reuters and AP News, are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards. They provide corroborated information regarding his release, but the context of the claim about the duration of his imprisonment is inaccurate. The claim appears to exaggerate the time he spent in jail, potentially for dramatic effect.

Conclusion

The verdict is False. While it is true that Syarhei Tsikhanouski has been released from prison, the assertion that he was freed after nearly five years is incorrect. He was sentenced to 18 years in December 2021, meaning he has not been imprisoned for five years at the time of his release.

Sources

1. Tekst jednolity aktu prawnego
2. Kodeks Wyborczy - Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza
3. Ustawa z dnia 5 stycznia 2011 r. - Kodeks wyborczy - ELI
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