Vilnius, Lithuania – Na wetin we go call am now, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya no dey slack as she dey shine light for Belarus matter. Na last month, e shock everybody when Belarus release her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski. But Tsikhanouskaya no gree rest, she dey call U.S. President Donald Trump make e no let Lukashenko get free pass (because who wan normalize bad behavior? No be us!).
She yarn say, “We must not normalize the trafficking of political prisoners, when people are released for some concessions from your side.” Meaning say, “Lukashenko suppose collect punishment, no be reward.” (Some people fit call am sharp!).
As E be, Siarhei don spend more than two years for prison, dem say na because he dey “inciting hatred and social unrest.” I mean, wetin you expect from a regime wey no gree relax? He sab drill up hin political career before dem put am for inside prison. Tsikhanouskaya say the first time wey she hear Siarhei voice after all dis wahala na when he dey on call from the border between Belarus and Lithuania: “My dear wife, I’m free.” (Omo, if no be strong heart, wetin dat kind talk fit do person?!)
The whole thing dey sweet but also painful. As dem finally meet at the American embassy for Vilnius, Tsikhanouskaya don dey vex gidigba. Siarhei don lose half hin body weight! Talk say prison no dey do person well; e go make any padi weak and skinny. Their daughter no even recognize am at first o! “E no easy at all!” she shout as tears dey drop. (Ego dey sweet for person to see their loved one, but this na touch and go matter!).
Now, Tsikhanouskaya dey wonder wetin really make dem free Siarhei. Lukashenko like to play this prisoner exchange game wey no too sweet. E dey try show say, “Look, I’m not so bad,” when international eyes dey watch. But Tsikhanouskaya no wan hear any talk wey go make dem loosen sanctions. “First condition — ending repression — must be met,” she insist. (E be like say dem go need hammer some lessons into Lukashenko head too!).
She no dey lie o! If Trump fit use him own now for part of this drama, e fit turn am into big foreign policy success for him if him send correct signals. “This Belarus matter fit show wetin real action dey look like,” Tsikhanouskaya talk, make sure say Belarus no go fall into Russia’s hands as dem dey negotiate peace in Ukraine. (Abeg, we no wan make anybody lose concentration for this matter!)
No easy to place trust for person wey don promise heaven and earth before, but Tsikhanouskaya dey hold hope. “I trust that American partners … know who they’re dealing with,” she talk, sabi say the road go tough but dem dey here to fight for freedom. (This na the real gist; dem no dey give up just like that!).
