Exiled&nbsp;Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was handed a 15-year jail term on Monday after being convicted in absentia for treason and "conspiracy to seize power", a verdict she said was punishment for her efforts to promote democracy.

Tsikhanouskaya, 40, a former English teacher, fled to neighbouring Lithuania in 2020 after running against incumbent leader Alexander Lukashenko in a presidential election, which official results showed Lukashenko won by a landslide.

She and the opposition said at the time that the results had been doctored to hand victory to Lukashenko instead of herself. Lukashenko, who has ruled&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;with an iron hand for nearly 30 years, denied the claim.

Mass protests against Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, then erupted which his security forces suppressed, locking up his opponents or forcing them to flee.

The authorities put Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition's de-facto head, on trial in absentia in January, accusing her and other opposition figures of trying to seize power in an unconstitutional way.

Belta, the state news agency, said a court in Minsk had sentenced Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in a prison camp after finding her guilty of treason and conspiracy to seize power.

The same court handed an 18-year prison sentence to Pavel Latushko, a prominent member of the&nbsp;Belarusian opposition council, and 12-year jail sentences to three other activists convicted of being part of the same plot, Belta reported.

"15 years of prison. This is how the regime 'rewarded' my work for democratic changes in&nbsp;Belarus," Tsikhanouskaya said on Twitter.

"But today I don't think about my own sentence. I think about thousands of innocents, detained &amp; sentenced to real prison terms. I won't stop until each of them is released."

Rights activists estimate about 1,500 people are in jail in&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;on politically motivated charges.

Tsikhanouskaya's own husband, Syarhei, is serving an 18-year jail term after being found guilty in 2021 of organising mass unrest in a ruling she said was political revenge and part of a crackdown by Lukashenko on anyone he viewed as a threat.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday by a court in Minsk in a trial condemned in the West as a "sham".

Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has accused the West of trying to destabilise&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;and promised to crack down hard on any new attempts to challenge his rule.

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Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was handed a 15-year jail term on Monday after being convicted in absentia for treason and "conspiracy to seize power", a verdict she said was punishment for her efforts to promote democracy.

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was handed a 15-year jail term on Monday after being convicted in absentia for treason and "conspiracy to seize power", a verdict she said was punishment for her efforts to promote democracy. Tsikhanouskaya, 40, a former English teacher, fled to neighbouring Lithuania in 2020 after running against incumbent leader Alexander Lukashenko in a presidential election, which official results showed Lukashenko won by a landslide. She and the opposition said at the time that the results had been doctored to hand victory to Lukashenko instead of herself. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for nearly 30 years, denied the claim. Mass protests against Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, then erupted which his security forces suppressed, locking up his opponents or forcing them to flee. The authorities put Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition's de-facto head, on trial in absentia in January, accusing her and other opposition figures of trying to seize power in an unconstitutional way. Belta, the state news agency, said a court in Minsk had sentenced Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in a prison camp after finding her guilty of treason and conspiracy to seize power. The same court handed an 18-year prison sentence to Pavel Latushko, a prominent member of the Belarusian opposition council, and 12-year jail sentences to three other activists convicted of being part of the same plot, Belta reported. "15 years of prison. This is how the regime 'rewarded' my work for democratic changes in Belarus," Tsikhanouskaya said on Twitter. "But today I don't think about my own sentence. I think about thousands of innocents, detained & sentenced to real prison terms. I won't stop until each of them is released." Rights activists estimate about 1,500 people are in jail in Belarus on politically motivated charges. Tsikhanouskaya's own husband, Syarhei, is serving an 18-year jail term after being found guilty in 2021 of organising mass unrest in a ruling she said was political revenge and part of a crackdown by Lukashenko on anyone he viewed as a threat. Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday by a court in Minsk in a trial condemned in the West as a "sham". Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has accused the West of trying to destabilise Belarus and promised to crack down hard on any new attempts to challenge his rule. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Belarus opposition leader handed 15-year jail term for 'treason'

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has been placed on Russia's wanted list. According to Russia, Tsikhanouskaya is wanted on criminal charges against her.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Russia's wanted list

According to Russia's interior ministry, Belarusia's Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya ,38, has been placed on the country's "wanted list".

Watch:

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Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya&nbsp;had fled to Lithuania after Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown over the August elections which critics said was fraudulent leading to large scale street protests.

Tsikhanouskaya said, "I'm really impressed by the German support of our Belarusian people who are fighting now for building our own democracy in Belarus," Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said after talks with German foreign affairs expert Norbert Roettgen.

"I have met a lot of politicians who have offered help in solving our political crisis. I have talked to Madam Chancellor and she gave me really great piece of advice, how she sees the situation and how in her opinion that we can get out of this situation,"&nbsp;Tsikhanouskaya asserted.

Pointing towards Russia, Sviatlana said: "We don't want to say that Putin has to decide how to solve our problems. This is our internal problem." However, she added that she was in favour of inviting Putin as a "mediator alongside with other leaders" while adding "and that's it. We want to solve this problem by ourselves."

Tsikhanouskaya insisted that she was not in favour of any kind of bloodshed while highlighting the role of women in the "revolution" who she said are "fighting for the future of their children".

"They(women) don't want their children to be slaves of the system in the future, they show peacefully, they show peace and allow the riot police, they show that we don't want any kind of war and blood," she said.

According to Russia's interior ministry, Belarusia's Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya ,38, has been placed on the country's "wanted list". Watch: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had fled to Lithuania after Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown over the August elections which critics said was fraudulent leading to large scale street protests.

According to Russia's interior ministry, Belarusia's Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya ,38, has been placed on the country's "wanted list". Watch: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had fled to Lithuania after Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown over the August elections which critics said was fraudulent leading to large scale street protests. Tsikhanouskaya said, "I'm really impressed by the German support of our Belarusian people who are fighting now for building our own democracy in Belarus," Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said after talks with German foreign affairs expert Norbert Roettgen. "I have met a lot of politicians who have offered help in solving our political crisis. I have talked to Madam Chancellor and she gave me really great piece of advice, how she sees the situation and how in her opinion that we can get out of this situation," Tsikhanouskaya asserted. Pointing towards Russia, Sviatlana said: "We don't want to say that Putin has to decide how to solve our problems. This is our internal problem." However, she added that she was in favour of inviting Putin as a "mediator alongside with other leaders" while adding "and that's it. We want to solve this problem by ourselves." Tsikhanouskaya insisted that she was not in favour of any kind of bloodshed while highlighting the role of women in the "revolution" who she said are "fighting for the future of their children". "They(women) don't want their children to be slaves of the system in the future, they show peacefully, they show peace and allow the riot police, they show that we don't want any kind of war and blood," she said.

Russia puts Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on 'wanted list'

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya met&nbsp;German Chancellor Angela Merkel&nbsp;for private talks in Berlin on Tuesday according to a German government spokeswoman.

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In picture:&nbsp;German chancellor Angela Merkel meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya at the Chancellery in Berlin/Twitter

The meeting came after Tsikhanouskaya's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Vilnius last week, until then the highest-profile Western leader to meet the exiled opposition figure.

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After Tsikhanouskaya's closed door meeting with Merkel, with no cameras allowed, the Belarusian opposition leader met the German opposition Green Party's leadership inside parliament.

Tsikhanouskaya posed for cameras with the German parliament's vice president of the Greens, Claudia Roth and other senior women of the party before they met for talks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-denies-lukashenko-recognition-as-belarus-president-329683">Germany denies Lukashenko recognition as Belarus president</a>

Drum up support

Tsikhanouskaya, who says she won Belarus's presidential election two months ago and accuses long-standing President Alexander&nbsp;Lukashenko&nbsp;of hanging on to power only via massive electoral fraud, is in Berlin to drum up support.

Merkel, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has said Germany does not recognise&nbsp;Lukashenko&nbsp;as the winner of the vote and condemned the government's violence against protesters.

"This, our struggle, has not only united the Belarusians in our homeland but in the whole world," Tikhanovskaya told several dozen demonstrators waving red-and-white banners and placards in the German capital Monday evening.

"I learned today that the Belarusians in Berlin, but also in other German cities, hardly knew each other before," Tikhanovskaya told the crowd.

"But this summer, Belarus and Belarusians have united. We don't know how long this struggle will last but we need your help. The government has not heard us for 26 years and it does not hear us now," she added.

The United States and the EU hit Belarus officials with long-awaited sanctions on Friday, drawing an angry response from Minsk and its ally Moscow.

Tikhanovskaya only joined the political fray after her husband Sergei -- a popular blogger -- was barred from registering as a presidential candidate and arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

The 38-year-old has met with leaders in Poland and Lithuania, but her talks with Macron have been the most high profile to date.

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya met German Chancellor Angela Merkel for private talks in Berlin on Tuesday according to a German government spokeswoman.

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya met German Chancellor Angela Merkel for private talks in Berlin on Tuesday according to a German government spokeswoman. In picture: German chancellor Angela Merkel meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya at the Chancellery in Berlin/Twitter The meeting came after Tsikhanouskaya's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Vilnius last week, until then the highest-profile Western leader to meet the exiled opposition figure. After Tsikhanouskaya's closed door meeting with Merkel, with no cameras allowed, the Belarusian opposition leader met the German opposition Green Party's leadership inside parliament. Tsikhanouskaya posed for cameras with the German parliament's vice president of the Greens, Claudia Roth and other senior women of the party before they met for talks. Also read: Germany denies Lukashenko recognition as Belarus president Drum up support Tsikhanouskaya, who says she won Belarus's presidential election two months ago and accuses long-standing President Alexander Lukashenko of hanging on to power only via massive electoral fraud, is in Berlin to drum up support. Merkel, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has said Germany does not recognise Lukashenko as the winner of the vote and condemned the government's violence against protesters. "This, our struggle, has not only united the Belarusians in our homeland but in the whole world," Tikhanovskaya told several dozen demonstrators waving red-and-white banners and placards in the German capital Monday evening. "I learned today that the Belarusians in Berlin, but also in other German cities, hardly knew each other before," Tikhanovskaya told the crowd. "But this summer, Belarus and Belarusians have united. We don't know how long this struggle will last but we need your help. The government has not heard us for 26 years and it does not hear us now," she added. The United States and the EU hit Belarus officials with long-awaited sanctions on Friday, drawing an angry response from Minsk and its ally Moscow. Tikhanovskaya only joined the political fray after her husband Sergei -- a popular blogger -- was barred from registering as a presidential candidate and arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government. The 38-year-old has met with leaders in Poland and Lithuania, but her talks with Macron have been the most high profile to date.

Belarus opposition leader meets Merkel to drum up support against Lukashenko

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that she will hold talks with Belarus's main opposition leader, days after French President Emanuel Macron met with her. Watch report.

Belarus Political Unrest: Angela Merkel to meet opposition leader

French President&nbsp;Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday&nbsp;invited&nbsp;Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to address his country's&nbsp;parliament, following a meeting with her during his Lithunai visit.

Tikhanovskaya said&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;promised her to help negotiate with the Belarus authorities and secure the release of the political prisoners.

"He promised us to do everything to help with negotiations, (during) this political crisis in our country ... and he will do everything to help to release all the political prisoners", Tsikhanouskaya told reporters in English after the meeting in Vilnius.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/we-come-in-peace-belarusian-women-dressed-in-white-protest-against-corrupt-leadership-321060">We come in peace: Belarusian women dressed in white protest against corrupt leadership</a>

Highest-profile meeting yet

It was&nbsp;Tikhanovskaya's most high-profile meeting with an international leader since the elections on August 9 and the protests which she has helped inspire.

She has previously met with leaders in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania, which have taken a lead in European diplomacy on Belarus, and with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The EU is considering personal sanctions against Lukashenko and other high-profile figures seen as responsible for the violent crackdown.

On Monday, on his first day in Vilnius, where Tsikhanouskaya fled into exile,&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;urged Belarus authorities to stop unlawful arrests, release protesters detained arbitrarily and respect election results.

He had urged Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to go on Sunday, hardening his stance as tens of thousands marched in Belarus for a seventh straight weekend to demand Lukashenko quit.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday invited Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to address his country's parliament, following a meeting with her during his Lithunai visit.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday invited Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to address his country's parliament, following a meeting with her during his Lithunai visit. Tikhanovskaya said Macron promised her to help negotiate with the Belarus authorities and secure the release of the political prisoners. "He promised us to do everything to help with negotiations, (during) this political crisis in our country ... and he will do everything to help to release all the political prisoners", Tsikhanouskaya told reporters in English after the meeting in Vilnius. Also see: We come in peace: Belarusian women dressed in white protest against corrupt leadership Highest-profile meeting yet It was Tikhanovskaya's most high-profile meeting with an international leader since the elections on August 9 and the protests which she has helped inspire. She has previously met with leaders in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania, which have taken a lead in European diplomacy on Belarus, and with EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The EU is considering personal sanctions against Lukashenko and other high-profile figures seen as responsible for the violent crackdown. On Monday, on his first day in Vilnius, where Tsikhanouskaya fled into exile, Macron urged Belarus authorities to stop unlawful arrests, release protesters detained arbitrarily and respect election results. He had urged Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to go on Sunday, hardening his stance as tens of thousands marched in Belarus for a seventh straight weekend to demand Lukashenko quit.

Emmanuel Macron invites Belarus opposition leader to address French parliament

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during his visit to Lithuania in what is seen as a major show of support for the activist.

Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Vilnius after claiming victory in a disputed election, told AFP on Monday she had requested a meeting and called on Macron to help mediate in the crisis.

"The protests are not going to stop," the 38-year-old said in an interview, adding that Belarus "badly needs" a dialogue between government and opposition in order to ensure there is "no more blood".

Macron's office confirmed he would meet with Tikhanovskaya on Tuesday during his three-day visit to Lithuania and Latvia, marking a fresh initiative from the French leader in addition to recent efforts to resolve a political crisis in Lebanon.&nbsp;

It will be Tikhanovskaya's most high-profile meeting with an international leader since the elections on August 9 and the protests which she has helped inspire.

In her interview, Tikhanovskaya said Macron could encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Belarusian strongman president Alexander Lukashenko, to take part in the dialogue.

Ahead of his arrival in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Macron said it was clear that Lukashenko "has to go" after 26 years in power in the former Soviet republic.

He added he was impressed with the courage of protesters, who on Sunday staged their 50th day of demonstrations against Lukashenko since his disputed election win last month.

Belarusian police on Sunday detained around 200 people as tens of thousands took to the streets days after Lukashenko staged a secret inauguration.

Tikhanovskaya, whose blogger husband remains in a Belarus prison, also on Monday called for EU sanctions against businesses that support Lukashenko's government.

But she emphasised that the EU should stop short of general economic sanctions as "ordinary people will suffer most" from them.

- Highest-profile meeting yet -

She has previously met with leaders in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania, which have taken a lead in European diplomacy on Belarus, and with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The EU is considering personal sanctions against Lukashenko and other high-profile figures seen as responsible for the violent crackdown.

Lukashenko has also jailed or forced out most of the country's prominent opposition activists.

On Monday, Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich -- a Nobel Literature Prize winner who has faced official pressure for supporting the opposition -- left the country for planned treatment in Germany.

"She will return to Belarus in a month. She is not dropping her (opposition) activities," her friend Mariya Voiteshonok told AFP.&nbsp;

In addition to the talks with Tikhanovskaya and a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda, Macron will also visit French troops&nbsp;stationed in the Baltic state as part of a NATO move to reinforce its eastern flank.

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during his visit to Lithuania in what is seen as a major show of support for the activist.

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during his visit to Lithuania in what is seen as a major show of support for the activist. Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Vilnius after claiming victory in a disputed election, told AFP on Monday she had requested a meeting and called on Macron to help mediate in the crisis. "The protests are not going to stop," the 38-year-old said in an interview, adding that Belarus "badly needs" a dialogue between government and opposition in order to ensure there is "no more blood". Macron's office confirmed he would meet with Tikhanovskaya on Tuesday during his three-day visit to Lithuania and Latvia, marking a fresh initiative from the French leader in addition to recent efforts to resolve a political crisis in Lebanon. It will be Tikhanovskaya's most high-profile meeting with an international leader since the elections on August 9 and the protests which she has helped inspire. In her interview, Tikhanovskaya said Macron could encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Belarusian strongman president Alexander Lukashenko, to take part in the dialogue. Ahead of his arrival in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Macron said it was clear that Lukashenko "has to go" after 26 years in power in the former Soviet republic. He added he was impressed with the courage of protesters, who on Sunday staged their 50th day of demonstrations against Lukashenko since his disputed election win last month. Belarusian police on Sunday detained around 200 people as tens of thousands took to the streets days after Lukashenko staged a secret inauguration. Tikhanovskaya, whose blogger husband remains in a Belarus prison, also on Monday called for EU sanctions against businesses that support Lukashenko's government. But she emphasised that the EU should stop short of general economic sanctions as "ordinary people will suffer most" from them. - Highest-profile meeting yet - She has previously met with leaders in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania, which have taken a lead in European diplomacy on Belarus, and with EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The EU is considering personal sanctions against Lukashenko and other high-profile figures seen as responsible for the violent crackdown. Lukashenko has also jailed or forced out most of the country's prominent opposition activists. On Monday, Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich -- a Nobel Literature Prize winner who has faced official pressure for supporting the opposition -- left the country for planned treatment in Germany. "She will return to Belarus in a month. She is not dropping her (opposition) activities," her friend Mariya Voiteshonok told AFP. In addition to the talks with Tikhanovskaya and a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda, Macron will also visit French troops stationed in the Baltic state as part of a NATO move to reinforce its eastern flank.

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