Belarus Frees 123 Prisoners After US Eases Sanctions in Diplomatic Thaw

Belarus Frees 123 Prisoners After US Eases Sanctions in Diplomatic Thaw
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has released 123 detainees, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava, following talks with a US envoy and Washington’s decision to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash exports, The Guardian reported.

The release, announced on Saturday, followed two days of discussions in Minsk with John Coale, an envoy of US President Donald Trump. It marks the largest prisoner release since diplomatic contacts between the two sides began and is seen as part of a broader effort by Belarus to ease its isolation from Western countries.

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has faced extensive US and EU sanctions over its human rights record, particularly after a violent crackdown on mass protests following the disputed 2020 presidential election. Additional restrictions were imposed in 2022 after Minsk allowed Russian forces to use its territory during the invasion of Ukraine.

Among those freed were Bialiatski, jailed in 2021 after years of campaigning for political prisoners, and Kalesnikava, a leading figure in the 2020 protest movement. Former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka was also released. Human rights groups have previously warned that many detainees suffered deteriorating health while in custody.

US officials said the move was part of a gradual rapprochement aimed at encouraging Belarus to distance itself from Moscow, a strategy viewed skeptically by some opposition figures. While welcoming the releases, Belarusian opposition leaders called for EU sanctions to remain in place, arguing they remain essential for accountability and democratic change. Belarusian authorities continue to deny holding political prisoners, although rights group Viasna says more than 1,200 people remain imprisoned on political grounds.