Belarus Frees Dozens of Political Prisoners in Exchange for Eased US Sanctions Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Belarus Frees Dozens of Political Prisoners in Exchange for Eased US Sanctions Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Dozens of political prisoners have been released from Belarusian jails as part of a significant agreement between authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and the United States. Fifty-two individuals, including prominent trade union leaders, journalists, and activists, regained their freedom on Thursday, though over 1,000 political prisoners reportedly remain incarcerated in Belarus.
In a reciprocal move, the United States has committed to easing certain sanctions on the Belarusian national airline, Belavia, facilitating its ability to procure essential aircraft parts. This diplomatic breakthrough follows a high-stakes meeting in Minsk on Thursday between Lukashenko and US special envoy John Coale, where discussions also centered on re-establishing trade relations and the potential reopening of the US embassy, closed since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The prisoner releases unfold against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions. They occurred on the eve of the Zapad-2025 joint military exercises involving Belarus and its close ally Russia, drills that have prompted neighboring Poland to close its borders with Belarus until Tuesday and Latvia to restrict parts of its airspace. Poland also reported an unprecedented Russian drone incursion into its airspace, drawing condemnation from Russia’s foreign ministry regarding Poland’s “confrontational steps.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, in an interview with BBC World Service’s Newshour, warned that “Putin is mocking the efforts” by the West to engage diplomatically. Belarus, heavily impacted by Western sanctions due to its alignment with Russia’s war in Ukraine, is reportedly keen to rebuild economic ties with the US.
While Lukashenko, in power since 1994, characterized the releases as a “humanitarian gesture,” they form part of a broader effort to mend strained relationships with the EU and US. Since July 2023, 314 other prisoners have been released, with an additional 14 pardoned in June, including Sergei Tikhanovsky, husband of exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Tikhanovskaya reportedly met some of the newly freed individuals as they crossed into Lithuania, where President Gitanas Nauseda thanked President Trump for his role.
Among those freed on Thursday are 69-year-old philosopher Vladimir Matskevich, journalist Igor Losik, and veteran opposition figure Mikola Statkevich. However, the path to freedom for some was conditional on exile, a point highlighted by opposition official Olga Zazulinskaya. Larissa Shchyrakova, a former journalist, confirmed she served her full three-year term before being expelled. Notably, Mikola Statkevich reportedly refused to leave Belarus, with opposition figures posting images of him at the border, underscoring the complexities and personal tolls of the situation.
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