Belarusian opposition leader says Navalny ‘murder’ a green light for activist killings

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned on Monday that the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony could send a “green light” for authoritarian countries to kill other political prisoners. Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania in 2020 after running against incumbent leader Alexander Lukashenko, said she had been particularly affected by Navalny’s death due to her family circumstances. Tsikhanouskaya’s husband Siarhei, a video blogger critical of the authorities, was arrested in May 2020 after announcing his intention to run against Lukashenko.