- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, following talks with U.S. Special Envoy John Coale.
- The release was part of a diplomatic arrangement in which the U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarus’ potash industry, with potential for further sanctions relief as relations normalize.
- Ales Bialiatski, jailed since 2021 for alleged financial crimes and smuggling, emphasized that the fight for human rights continues, noting thousands of political prisoners remain.
- Maria Kolesnikova, a key figure in the 2020 anti-Lukashenko protests, was also released. She expressed gratitude to the U.S. and hopes for the freedom of remaining prisoners.
- Most freed prisoners were sent to Ukraine and Lithuania, where they reunited with exiled opposition figures such as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Viktar Babaryka.
Belarus Releases 123 Political Prisoners, Including Nobel Winner and Opposition Leader
