- Title: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: A symbol of change for Belarus
- Date: 30th September 2021
- Summary: Belarus opposition hopeful Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya launches candidacy against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, in place of her husband, Syarhei Tsikhanouski who was detained in May of this year. MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - JULY 14, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, WALKING OUT OF BELARUS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, SAYING: "(I have) Mixed emotions. But mostly, I am glad, because I can now fight on for my husband and people of the Republic of Belarus." TSIKHANOUSKAYA'S HANDS VARIOUS OF TSIKHANOUSKAYA HOLDING REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE Over 7,000 people attend campaign rally for Tsikhanouskaya and allies on 19 July. People gather in the capital Minsk, calling for a fair election and freedom for opposition candidates. MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - JULY 19, 2020) (REUTERS) TSIKHANOUSKAYA ON STAGE HOLDING FLOWERS SUPPORTERS CHEERING AND APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, SAYING: "The power and the threat of the Belarus authorities are not the candidates, it is the people of Belarus, who do not want to live in misery anymore, they want to live in a free country, where they do not grab people in the street, put them into a police van and then send them to jail for an invented reason." SUPPORTERS CHEERING OPPOSITION STANDING ON STAGE / PEOPLE CHEERING, CHANTING (Russian): "FREEDOM" Tsikhanouskaya casts her vote in the Belarus election on August 9. MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - AUGUST 9, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA CASTING HER VOTE VARIOUS OF TSIKHANOUSKAYA WALKING AWAY FROM POLLING STATION, SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS
- Embargoed: 14th October 2021 01:40
- Keywords: Belarus election Belarus opposition leader Belaurus Lukashenko Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya protests
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Various
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWXT553
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: QUALITY AS INCOMING
Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among the contenders for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
The 38-year-old former English teacher has been become the unexpected figurehead of popular resistance to the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, after her husband, a prominent video blogger, was jailed and other candidates were barred from running in the presidential election in August 2020.
Tsikhanouskaya's unforeseen candidacy drew thousands of signatures of support for her nomination and her campaign rallies attracted tens of thousands.
Pro-government media ridiculed the aspirations of the stay-at-home mother to become president.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, said he won the election and Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania with her two children after a crackdown on protesters, fearing persecution.
Tens of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets for nearly two weeks following the contested election.
Tsikhanouskaya has since met with foreign leaders to press for their support and stronger actions against the Belarusian government. She set up an opposition council from exile.
She told Reuters that
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