Belarus releases 123 political prisoners

diplomacy

Belarus releases 123 political prisoners

In Belarus, ruler Lukashenko is releasing many prisoners, including big names, at the urging of the US President. In doing so, he also buys an end to sanctions.

According to official figures, ruler Alexander Lukashenko has released 123 political prisoners in Belarus. Opposition and human rights activists said that among them were prominent opposition figures such as Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Beljatsky. Former presidential candidate Viktor Babariko is also free again.

Lukashenko’s press service in Minsk said the release took place “within the framework of the agreements reached with US President Donald Trump and at his request.” There was initially no official list of those released. Lukashenko had recently released prisoners at the urging of the USA.

The leadership in Minsk also announced that the reason for the step was the lifting of sanctions against the potassium industry in the Republic of Belarus. Lukashenko pardoned citizens of various countries “convicted of various crimes – espionage, terrorist and extremist activities – under the laws of the Republic of Belarus,” it said. The convicts had always rejected the allegations. They were considered political prisoners.

It was a gesture at the “request of other heads of state and for humanitarian reasons, as well as general human and family values,” Lukashenko’s press service said. The aim is to accelerate the positive dynamics of relations with Belarus’ partner countries and to stabilize the situation in the entire European region.

Opposition representatives in Vilnius said Kolesnikova is no longer in Belarus. With the release of the prisoners under US mediation, Lukashenko also bought the lifting of Western sanctions against the country. He had recently released dozens of prisoners and was open to letting Kolesnikova go too. However, in order to do so, she would have to write a request for clemency to the politician who was decried as Europe’s last dictator, he said.

Kolesnikova was one of the leaders of the mass protests after the 2020 presidential election, which was overshadowed by unprecedented allegations of manipulation. The ruler Lukashenko suppressed the protests. Kolesnikova was arrested in September 2020 and a year later sentenced to 11 years in prison for conspiracy to overthrow the country. She is considered a political prisoner. Hundreds of Lukashenko’s critics are still in prison in the country.