In a significant development, Belarus has released 52 political prisoners, including 14 foreign nationals, following a diplomatic visit by U.S. envoy John Coale.
The freed individuals include opposition figures, civil society activists, and journalists. Among them is 69-year-old politician Mikalai Statkevich, who has reportedly refused to leave Belarus and is currently at the Belarus–Lithuania border. Other notable releases include former trade union leader Gennady Fedynich, activist Dmitry Dashkevich, trade union leader Alexander Yaroshuk, and journalist Igor Losik. The identities of additional released prisoners are yet to be disclosed.
This large-scale release appears to be part of a broader diplomatic effort by Belarus to improve relations with the West, particularly the United States. In exchange for the prisoners’ release, the U.S. has agreed to ease sanctions on Belarus’s national airline, Belavia, and has expressed intentions to reopen its embassy in Minsk. The freed prisoners are reportedly en route to Lithuania.
Despite this development, over 1,000 political prisoners remain detained in Belarus, raising concerns about the regime’s commitment to genuine reform.
For more details, refer to the full reports by The Guardian and Associated Press.
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