Belarus has announced the release of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, along with dozens of other political prisoners, following two days of talks with Washington representatives focused on enhancing bilateral relations and easing stringent US sanctions on a significant Belarusian agricultural export. President Alexander Lukashenko, head of a brutal dictatorship, pardoned a total of 123 prisoners, as reported by Belarus’ state news agency, Belta. In a reciprocal move, the United States confirmed it would lift sanctions affecting Belarus’ potash sector.
However, despite the humanitarian significance of such developments, the deal between Washington and Misk is part of the broader plan of the Trump administration to do business with Russia and its satellites. The deal neglects any future democratisation of the Belarusian regime and will likely be associated with a cut in US support for the Belarusian democratic opposition.
As a country significantly influenced by Russia, Belarus has experienced prolonged Western isolation and sanctions due to the political repression associated with Lukashenko’s regime. He has governed the country of 9.5 million for over three decades. During that time, the West has consistently imposed sanctions in response to human rights violations and Belarus’s role in facilitating the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
US Special Envoy for Belarus, John Coale, characterised the discussions with Lukashenko in Minsk as “very productive.” He emphasised that the primary objective is to normalise relations between the two countries. Coale noted the relationship between the United States and Belarus is transitioning from initial steps to a more confident partnership as dialogue continues, as reported by the Belarusian news agency.
Since July 2024, Belarus has undertaken the release of hundreds of prisoners. On Saturday, 123 persons were released, including a US citizen, six citizens of allied countries, and five Ukrainian citizens. A US official, who requested anonymity to protect the details of private diplomatic negotiations, communicated this information to The Associated Press. The official characterised this release as a significant milestone in the engagement between the United States and Belarus.
Big names of the Belarusian democratic opposition
Among the prominent individuals released were Ales Bialiatski and Maria Kolesnikova, as confirmed by Pavel Sapelka, an advocate with the Viasna human rights group. Bialiatski, a well-respected human rights advocate and founder of Viasna, was imprisoned at the time he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, an award he shared with the Russian rights group Memorial and Ukraine’s Centre for Civil Liberties. Bialiatski was convicted on charges of smuggling and financing activities that allegedly violated public order—charges that have faced widespread condemnation as politically motivated—and was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2023.
Bialiatski told the AP by phone Saturday that his release after 1,613 days behind bars came as a surprise — in the morning, he was still in an overcrowded prison cell. “It feels like I jumped out of icy water into a normal, warm room, so I have to adapt. After isolation, I need to get information about what’s going on,” said Bialiatski.
He vowed to continue his work, stressing that “more than a thousand political prisoners in Belarus remain behind bars simply because they chose freedom. And, of course, I am their voice.”
Kolesnikova was a prominent figure in the 2020 Belarus protests and a close ally of opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Known for her close-cropped hair and a heart gesture, she became a symbol of resistance when, after an attempted deportation, she tore up her passport and returned to Belarus. Convicted in 2021 of conspiracy to seize power, she received an 11-year prison sentence.
Among those released recently, according to the Viasna human rights organisation, was Viktar Babaryka, an opposition figure sentenced to 14 years after the disputed 2020 election. Others freed include lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich and opposition figure Maxim Znak.
Most freed prisoners were sent to Ukraine, while some, including Bialiatski, were taken to Lithuania. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the handover of 114, including five Ukrainians. Freed Belarusian nationals are being sent to Poland and Lithuania after receiving medical treatment. Lukashenko’s press secretary stated the releases were part of a deal with Ukraine, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Lukashenko and the US
During the last meeting between US officials and Lukashenko in September, Washington eased some sanctions on Belarus, while Minsk released over 50 political prisoners. “The freeing of political prisoners means that Lukashenko understands the pain of Western sanctions and is seeking to ease them,” Tsikhanouskaya told the AP on Saturday.
“But let’s not be naive: Lukashenko hasn’t changed his policies, his crackdown continues and he keeps on supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. That’s why we need to be extremely cautious with any talk of sanctions relief, so that we don’t reinforce Russia’s war machine and encourage continued repressions,” she added.
Belarus, formerly accounting for about 20% of global potash fertiliser exports, has had to significantly reduce its shipments due to Western sanctions on the state producer, Belaruskali, and disruptions to the main export route through Lithuania’s port of Klaipeda.
“Sanctions by the U.S., EU and their allies have significantly weakened Belarus’s potash industry, depriving the country of a key source of foreign exchange earnings and access to key markets,” Anastasiya Luzgina, an analyst at the Belarusian Economic Research Centre BEROC, told the AP. She noted that Minsk likely hopes this will lead to a relaxation of the more severe European sanctions.
Recent talks between the US and Belarus addressed Venezuela and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as reported by Belta. Coale noted that President Lukashenko provided “good advice” on the war, emphasising his strong relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The US official stated that improving U.S.-Belarus relations also requires resolving tensions with Lithuania, an EU and NATO member. Lithuania recently declared a national emergency due to security risks posed by meteorological balloons launched from Belarus, which have caused repeated shutdowns of its main airport, stranding thousands of passengers.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
