Belarusian Release of Political Prisoners Following US Envoy’s Visit
Belarusian Release of Political Prisoners Following US Envoy’s Visit
On Saturday, Belarusian authorities released Sergey Tikhanovsky, a prominent opposition figure and husband of exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, along with thirteen other political prisoners. This occurred hours after a meeting in Minsk between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine. Mr. Kellogg’s visit marked the highest-level U.S. official visit to Belarus in years.
Tikhanovsky, a blogger and activist, was imprisoned in 2020 after announcing plans to challenge Lukashenko in the presidential election. Following his arrest, his wife ran in his place. He was sentenced to 19 1/2 years in prison on charges of organizing mass riots. A video posted on Svetlana Tikhanovskaya’s Telegram account showed Tikhanovsky’s arrival in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was reunited with his wife.
Among the other released prisoners was Ihar Karnei, a long-time correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Karnei had been serving a three-year sentence on extremism charges. Allan Roio, an Estonian national and founder of an NGO supporting Belarusian refugees, was also released. Roio had been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison on charges of establishing an extremist organization.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya expressed joy at her husband’s release but noted that over 1,100 political prisoners remain in Belarusian jails. Prominent figures still imprisoned include Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, serving a 10-year sentence, and Viktor Babaryka and Maria Kolesnikova, both key figures in the 2020 protests.
Belarusian authorities announced that the release of the 14 prisoners followed a request from U.S. President Donald Trump. Lukashenko, in a meeting with Kellogg, stated, “You have made a lot of noise in the world with your arrival.” The meeting was described as warm and sincere by both sides. Lukashenko’s press secretary, Natalya Eismont, confirmed the release to Russian state media.
The Belarusian government’s actions have been interpreted by some as an attempt to improve relations with the United States and potentially alleviate international sanctions imposed due to the 2020 crackdown and Belarus’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the extent to which this release will affect international relations remains unclear.
RFE/RL CEO Stephen Capus expressed gratitude to President Trump for Karnei’s release. Karnei himself, in an interview, stated that he spent six months in solitary confinement and expressed hope that other political prisoners would receive similar treatment.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry confirmed the release of Allan Roio. Reporters Without Borders continues to highlight Belarus as Europe’s leading jailer of journalists, with at least 40 serving long prison sentences.
In conclusion, the release of Sergey Tikhanovsky and 13 other political prisoners followed a high-level U.S. visit to Belarus. While this event signifies a potential shift in diplomatic relations, a significant number of political prisoners remain incarcerated, and the long-term implications of this release remain to be seen.
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