Фото: x.com/Tsihanouskaya
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has expressed her condolences following the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina.
“I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. I had the honor of meeting him and witnessing his steadfast commitment to freedom, democracy, and security in our region. My heartfelt condolences go to his family, colleagues, and the people of South Carolina,” the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces wrote on X.
As previously reported, Lindsey Graham died on the evening of July 11 following a brief and sudden illness.
According to NBC News, emergency responders were dispatched to his home on Capitol Hill on Saturday evening after receiving a report of cardiac arrest. He was taken to hospital but could not be revived.
Staff members from Graham’s office told NBC News that there had been no prior indication he was experiencing health problems. He had been scheduled to appear on Meet the Press on Sunday.
The 71-year-old senator represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 and was one of the Republican Party’s most influential figures. In recent years, Graham had become one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies, although he was initially a sharp critic of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Graham was among the strongest advocates of continued support for Kyiv and called for tougher sanctions against Russia. Shortly before his death, he visited Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Under South Carolina law, the state’s governor will appoint an interim senator to serve until early January next year. The Republican Party will also have to select a new candidate to contest Graham’s seat in the upcoming election.