Dozens of political prisoners have been released from Belarusian prisons, as part of a recent agreement between Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. President Donald Trump. A total of 52 prisoners, including trade union leaders, journalists, and activists, have regained their freedom, though over 1,000 political prisoners still remain incarcerated in Belarus.
In return for these releases, the U.S. plans to ease certain sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, which will allow the airline to procure parts for its operations. This prisoner release occurred just before joint military exercises between Belarus and Russia, coinciding with a reported Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, prompting Poland to close its borders with Belarus and Latvia to restrict parts of its airspace.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, characterized the prisoner release as a humanitarian act following his meeting with Trump’s special envoy, John Coale, in Minsk. During their discussions, they explored avenues for re-establishing trade relations, including potential plans to reopen the U.S. embassy in Minsk, which was closed in February 2022 amidst the escalation of the war in Ukraine.
The recent releases align with a broader trend, as Lukashenko aims to improve relations with both the EU and the U.S. Since July 2023, 314 prisoners have reportedly been released as part of this effort. Among the newly freed are notable figures, including 69-year-old philosopher Vladimir Matskevich and opposition leader Mikola Statkevich.
Julia Fenner, a dual UK-Belarus citizen and the wife of a British diplomat, was also among those released. Detained upon her arrival in Belarus last year, she had recently received a lengthy prison sentence. While seeking to enhance ties with both Lukashenko and Putin, Trump has indicated interest in facilitating further prisoner releases.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c740mezey41o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss