Belarus releases 123 inmates as the US removes sanctions

Belarus has released 123 detainees, which includes the notable opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, following the US’s decision to alleviate sanctions on the nation.

Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is among those freed after negotiations in Minsk with John Coale, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump for Belarus.

The US has consented to lift sanctions on potash, a vital component in fertilizers and a significant export for Belarus, which is closely allied with Russia.

Coale remarked: “As the dynamics between the two nations improve, an increasing number of sanctions will be annulled.”

The EU does not acknowledge Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.

Kolesnikova has been incarcerated since 2020, with much of that time spent in isolation. After her release, she expressed “a sense of incredible joy” in being able to see and embrace her “dear ones”.

She stated: “It is immense joy to witness the first sunset of my freedom, such astounding beauty.

“However, we also think of those who remain imprisoned. I look forward to the time when we can all embrace one another, when everyone is free.”

According to Kyiv’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Kolesnikova was released to Ukraine along with 113 other detainees.

In a Telegram announcement, Ukraine indicated that the prisoners would first receive necessary medical care before being transferred to Poland and Lithuania.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader in exile, who was present outside the US embassy in Vilnius, informed the BBC that the decision to send them to Ukraine was surprising and had been reached by Lukashenko.

A small group, including Bialiatski, were relocated to the Lithuanian capital.

After embracing Tikhanovskaya, Bialiatski remarked: “Thousands of individuals have been and still are imprisoned…thus, our fight persists.”

Kolesnikova’s sister, Tatsiana Khomich, mentioned that the first thing Kolesnikova said during their conversation was her gratitude to the US administration, President Trump, and the Belarus government for initiating and engaging in these negotiations.

The agreement represents a significant success for Lukashenko. The authoritarian ruler will also appreciate how the Americans have mitigated his international alienation.

Alongside the EU, the US has also refrained from recognizing Lukashenko as president due to the unjust elections five years prior, which triggered widespread street protests that were ruthlessly quelled by law enforcement.

Countless individuals were taken into custody during that time, including Kolesnikova, and severe political oppression has continued to this day.

Western sanctions have been tightened in response to Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when its forces entered from Belarus and missiles were fired from its soil.

Belarusian state media quoted Coale saying the sanctions regarding potash would be lifted immediately.

The US envoy further mentioned he discussed with Lukashenko the situation in Ukraine and what assistance Minsk could provide in negotiations with Putin.

This effort to engage with Minsk signifies a substantial shift in US strategy, contrasting sharply with Europe’s approach of sanctioning and isolating.

Viktor Babaryko, a Belarusian opposition figure arrested five years ago, was also freed on Saturday, along with Marina Zolotova, the editor-in-chief of the independent news platform Tut.by.

Responding to the US agreement with Belarus over potash shipments in return for the releases, Tikhanovskaya asserted that sanctions serve as “leverage to compel dictators to take action”.

She remarked: “Lukashenko won’t release individuals simply because he has developed a sense of compassion; he aims to monetize the release of people as much as possible.

“Undoubtedly, there is a price. Nonetheless, we recognize that American sanctions are quite adaptable.

“They could be revoked tomorrow if certain agreements are not adhered to.”