Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Who Is Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Belarus’s Unlikely Opposition Leader?
News
By News
Published 5 years ago on
August 14, 2020

Share

[aggregation-styles]

Subscription

When Svyeta, then age 12, arrived in rural Ireland from Belarus in the mid-1990s, it was her strong grasp of English and her kindness that stood out.

One of thousands of children brought to Ireland by charities in the years after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in northern Ukraine, she used her language skills to help interpret for others in the program.

“She was a very compassionate kid,” said Henry Deane, who along with his wife, Marian, hosted her at their home in the central Irish town of Roscrea. “She would hold their hands at the dentist and interpret and, really, comfort them.”

It would be decades before the girl they call Svyeta, now known as Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, became the main opposition candidate in last Sunday’s disputed presidential election in Belarus. Ms. Tikhanovskaya, 37, on Sunday fled the country for Lithuania under what her associates said was pressure from the Belarusian authorities.

Read More →

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

Rise of the Anti-“Woke” Democrat

Kings County Sheriff Announces Retirement After Nearly 30 Years in Law Enforcement

14 hours ago

General Mills to Remove Artificial Colors From All Its US Cereals and Foods

14 hours ago

‘Who’s Running the White House?’ Trump Brings Back ICE Raids on Farms, Restaurants

U.S. immigration officials on Tuesday walked back limits on enforcement targeting farms, restaurants, hotels and food processing plants just...

13 hours ago

13 hours ago

‘Who’s Running the White House?’ Trump Brings Back ICE Raids on Farms, Restaurants

14 hours ago

Granite Park Eviction Lawsuit Heads Toward Trial

Mark Kismet, 50, who is considered at-risk went missing on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Clovis near Harlan Ranch is still missing according to the Clovis Police Department on Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Clovis PD)
14 hours ago

Missing Clovis Man Found Dead. No Foul Play Suspected

Kings County Sheriff Dave Robinson announced he will retire on November 24, 2025, ending a nearly 30-year career and prompting the county to consider options for his replacement. (Kings County SO)
14 hours ago

Kings County Sheriff Announces Retirement After Nearly 30 Years in Law Enforcement

14 hours ago

General Mills to Remove Artificial Colors From All Its US Cereals and Foods

15 hours ago

US FDA to Shorten Review Time for Drug Developers Under New Voucher Program

15 hours ago

Physician Warns Fresno County Supervisors About Jail’s Medical Provider, Private Equity Co.

15 hours ago

Houthi Official Says Group Will Intervene to Support Iran Against Israel

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend