Belarus Frees Prisoners, US Lifts Sanctions
Belarus has released 123 prisoners, including prominent opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. This action follows an agreement by the United States to lift sanctions on the Eastern European nation.
Key Figures Released
Maria Kolesnikova, who had been imprisoned since 2020 and spent considerable time in isolation, is among those freed. Her sister, Tatiana, confirmed the news to the BBC after speaking with Kolesnikova by video call. Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, was also released. A group of the freed individuals is anticipated to arrive in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, shortly, where a crowd has gathered outside the US embassy.
Sanctions and Diplomacy
US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, engaged in talks in Minsk, leading to the agreement. Coale was quoted by Belarusian state media confirming that sanctions on potash, a critical component in fertilizer and a significant Belarusian export, would be lifted immediately. Coale also stated he discussed Ukraine with President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, regarding potential assistance from Minsk in talks with Putin.
Political Context and US Policy Shift
This agreement represents a significant diplomatic development for Lukashenko, reducing Belarus's international isolation. The US, similar to the EU, had not recognized Lukashenko as president following elections five years ago that were widely criticized for irregularities. These elections were followed by large street protests that were suppressed by police, leading to hundreds of arrests, including Kolesnikova. Political detentions have continued in the country.
Western sanctions on Belarus were intensified after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which saw Russian troops enter Ukraine via Belarus and missiles launched from Belarusian territory. The US engagement with Minsk marks a shift in US policy, distinguishing its approach from Europe's strategy of sanctions and isolation.