Belarus freed more than 100 political prisoners, including one U.S. citizen, on Saturday after President Donald Trump began lifting sanctions on a key Belarusian export.
“The latest release of 123 individuals, including one U.S. citizen, six citizens of U.S. Allies, and five Ukrainian citizens, is a significant milestone in U.S.-Belarus engagement,” a U.S. official said, per Politico. “The United States stands ready for additional engagement with Belarus that advances U.S. interests and will continue to pursue diplomatic efforts to free remaining political prisoners in Belarus.”
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The U.S. citizen was not identified, but Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and political activist Maria Kolesnikova were among the Belarusian nationals released.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the U.S. and other allies for helping free five of his country’s citizens.
“We are helping our American partners so that the relevant support is provided to Ukraine,” Zelensky said on X as Ukraine works toward a peace agreement with Russia. “As needed, the special services of our European neighbors are also involved.”
“I have instructed the Defense Intelligence and all services represented in our Coordination Headquarters to maximize efforts on the Russian direction so that the release of Ukrainian POWs can take place before the New Year,” he added. “We remember all our people who still remain in Russian captivity. I thank everyone who is helping to bring Ukrainians home!”
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Saturday’s release of the political prisoners came after talks between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. special envoy for Belarus John Coale. The latter official said the Trump administration had lifted its sanctions on potash, a key fertilizer component.
Lukashenko, who has held the presidency in Belarus for over 30 years, has imprisoned hundreds of his opponents and critics since an election in 2020. Many activists argued it was rigged. There are over 1,000 political prisoners left in Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
