The government of Belarus has freed jailed opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky, alongside over a dozen other political prisoners, after direct talks with the U.S. He was imprisoned in 2020, ahead of national elections in which he planned to challenge the longtime rule of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Sergei’s wife Sviatlana ran for president instead, but lost in what was widely viewed as a rigged election.

On Saturday, Sergei Tikhanovsky was reunited with his family, who live in exile in Lithuania. He told reporters his children did not even recognize him. He also addressed his supporters.

Sergei Tikhanovsky: “They call those who oppose them traitors. And I will call anyone who does not resist them a traitor. … I want to address all Belarusians now and tell you: If you were waiting for a sign, here it is.”