Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is a Belarusian opposition leader who rose to prominence during the 2020 presidential election, widely considered to be rigged in favor of incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. She became a symbol of the pro-democracy movement that followed. While the provided articles don't directly mention her, they are highly relevant to the political situation she represents. The recent news focuses on Belarus releasing political prisoners in a deal with the US, leading to eased sanctions. However, significant European sanctions remain. Simultaneously, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into Belarus over alleged forced deportations of government opponents, a situation directly linked to the political repression Tsikhanouskaya opposes. These events highlight the ongoing international pressure on Belarus and the continued relevance of Tsikhanouskaya's fight for democratic change.