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🇧🇾 Tikhanovsky Scolds Supporters Over €1,000 Fundraising Effort
Belarusian opposition figure Siarhei Tikhanovsky, once seen as the face of the anti-Lukashenko movement, has sparked backlash after publicly berating his own supporters for failing to meet his fundraising demands. Tikhanovsky claimed he needed €200,000 to “crush Lukashenko in three weeks,” but only received €1,000.
“Someone Has to Do Everything for You”
In a video message, Tikhanovsky said:
“You raised only one thousand euros? That’s a joke. I asked for two hundred thousand. Someone has to come and do everything for you.”
His comments were quickly met with criticism, with many supporters accusing him of arrogance and being out of touch with the grassroots movement that once rallied behind him.
From Vlogger to Political Prisoner
Tikhanovsky rose to prominence through his YouTube channel “Country for Life”, where he documented state abuses and called for democratic reforms. He was arrested in 2020 while trying to register for Belarus’s presidential elections, leading to an 18-year prison sentence handed down in 2021.
Released — and Reignited
Following a surprise release in June 2025 after negotiations involving U.S. officials, Tikhanovsky returned to the public stage. But instead of unity, his recent remarks have divided the opposition further. His wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, remains a key figure in the Belarusian diaspora’s political strategy.
Opposition’s Image at Risk
Critics fear that Tikhanovsky’s remarks may damage the credibility of Belarus’s democratic movement abroad, particularly among Western donors and governments wary of political infighting.
Where Next?
With the exile movement under pressure and Lukashenko still in power, Belarus’s opposition may now need to rethink its messaging — and its messengers.
