Where does Tsikhanouski's resentment about money for teeth come from? We look into the story
Why the blogger didn't finish his dental treatment and who is to blame.
Blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski again and again returns to the topic of his teeth, which he did not finish treating after his release.
Commenting on Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's words about assistance to political prisoners, he stated:
«Only your husband didn't have enough money to fix his teeth!»
Elsewhere in the stream, Tsikhanouski reiterated that he «cannot even repair his teeth» because there are allegedly «no funds» for him.
This topic has been circulating online and in streams for several months now. Tsikhanouski continues to accuse human rights defenders, but they do not engage in discussion with him, as they consider it inappropriate to publicly discuss medical issues. "Nasha Niva" has collected all direct and indirect evidence to understand the problem.
Former Political Prisoners Saw Tsikhanouski at the Clinic
In the comments under the publication about Siarhei Tsikhanouski's claims, several former political prisoners living in Vilnius wrote that he used the same dental assistance program as everyone else.
Mikalai Dzyadok claims that he personally saw Siarhei Tsikhanouski in a Vilnius clinic:
«I met Tsikhanouski in Vilnius at a dental clinic where he was treating his teeth; we spoke there for the first and last time. That is, the program was provided to him, just as it was to me. And all my implants were placed. Most likely, he didn't get them placed simply because he left for the USA. And the assistance was tied to a specific clinic.»
Ihar Losik also writes that he repeatedly met Tsikhanouski at the dentist's office:
«I saw him many times at the dental clinic where all political prisoners had everything they needed installed without problems. But it's a lengthy process, especially when placing an implant: you need to walk around with a pin for several months for it to integrate.»
Indeed, after placement, an implant must fuse with the bone, and only then is a crown placed on it. This requires two to six months. In complex cases, where tooth extraction or bone grafting is needed, treatment can extend even longer.
From Release to Departure — Less Than Three Months
Siarhei Tsikhanouski was released on June 21, 2025. He, along with other released individuals, was taken to Lithuania.
In September 2025, Siarhei Tsikhanouski went on a tour of the USA and Canada. On September 9, he was in Washington, where he visited the White House; on September 13-14, he had meetings in Miami. After the tour, he remained in the USA.
Thus, about two and a half months passed from his release to his departure. Even if Siarhei Tsikhanouski consulted a dentist immediately, this time might not have been enough to fully complete multi-stage treatment.
«He Simply Left and Interrupted the Treatment»
BY_help co-founder Aliaksei Liavonchyk says that his organization was not involved in Siarhei Tsikhanouski's treatment, so he doesn't know the details of this specific case. However, he sees the most probable reason in Tsikhanouski's departure:
«As far as I understand, he simply left for the USA and interrupted the treatment. That's all.»
Aliaksei Liavonchyk explains that medical assistance for former political prisoners is not an abstract sum that a person can use in any country. Each organization has specific rules and limitations. Money for medical assistance cannot be automatically transferred to another country chosen by the recipient.
«If a person traveled to the States, it doesn't mean they will be paid for dental work there. The prices in the States are completely different. Most likely, program funds cannot be spent in the USA — only in Poland or Lithuania, as there is a geographical restriction,» says our interlocutor.
According to our information, dental assistance programs for released political prisoners indeed cooperate with clinics in Lithuania and Poland.
If a person lives in another country, to participate in the program, they need to come specifically to Lithuania and Poland.
How Much Does an Implant Cost in Vilnius, Warsaw, and the USA?
The difference in prices between Lithuania, Poland, and the USA is indeed significant.
In Vilnius clinics, an implant together with an abutment and a ceramic crown can cost approximately €1300-1600. Websites of Warsaw clinics state that, depending on the implant system, one restored tooth costs from €1000 to €2300.
In American clinics, an implant with an abutment and crown costs significantly more. In Los Angeles, for example, the price for one tooth reaches $5000 and higher. Restoring an entire jaw on four implants can start from $16,000.
And these are just base prices. If tooth extraction, bone grafting, sinus lift, or root canal treatment is needed, the sum significantly increases. Therefore, for the same money in Lithuania or Poland, one can do significantly more than in the USA.
There are Both Financial and Time Limits
Aliaksei Liavonchyk names three main limitations of assistance programs.
The first is geographical: treatment takes place in a specified country or at a clinic with which the organization cooperates.
The second is financial:
«A former political prisoner can combine assistance from different organizations if the cost of treatment exceeds the limit of one program. This is not forbidden. But each organization has an upper limit that it can spend on one political prisoner.»
The third limitation is time. Allocated assistance is not retained indefinitely for the individual:
«This does not mean that he can return in two years, and the money will be waiting for him. That's not the case either.»
Belarusians Separately Raised €10,000 for Tsikhanouski, Including for Teeth
On July 18, 2025, "Bysol" launched a fundraiser titled «Assistance for Siarhei Tsikhanouski to recover after imprisonment».
Tsikhanouski requested €8000, of which €4500 was for dentistry and prosthetics. In the fundraiser description, he wrote that almost all his teeth were destroyed and that he needed full treatment and prosthetics.
The required amount was raised in just eight hours. As a result, the fundraiser closed at €10,047.
But Tsikhanouski spent the money on hiring a team for himself — a security guard, an operator, and a press secretary.
«What was collected for my health recovery, I used that money to pay salaries to the guys,» said the blogger. According to him, the money ran out by September 2025.
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