Belarus Releases Political Prisoners Amid US Diplomatic Efforts
Belarus has released a total of 123 political prisoners, following an earlier release of 52 individuals, as part of agreements facilitated by the United States. These releases occurred amid diplomatic efforts that included a visit by a US special envoy to Minsk and the lifting of US sanctions on Belarusian potash exports. The released individuals, who include prominent opposition figures, human rights activists, and journalists, have begun to share accounts of their imprisonment and their experiences in exile.
Initial Releases and US-Belarusian Diplomacy
In September, 52 Belarusian political prisoners, including Larysa Shchyrakova, were released and transferred to Lithuania. This release was part of an agreement between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and former US President Donald Trump, following earlier pardons in June and July. Former President Trump later referred to Lukashenko as "the highly respected president," a comment made after the US, EU, UK, and Canada had rejected Lukashenko's declared victory in the 2020 elections as "fraudulent."
Subsequently, Belarus released an additional 123 political prisoners. This broader release followed negotiations led by the United States, which culminated in a visit to Minsk by US special envoy John Coale. Concurrently, the United States lifted sanctions on potash, a significant Belarusian export. European Union penalties and related policies regarding Belarus remain in effect. This diplomatic engagement by the US aligns with its broader re-engagement with Russia, a close ally of Belarus, in efforts to pursue a peace agreement related to the conflict in Ukraine.
Prominent Figures and Lingering Concerns
Among the 123 released individuals were protest leader Maria Kolesnikova, banker Viktor Babaryka, who had attempted to run for president in 2020, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, who had been serving a 10-year sentence. These individuals had been imprisoned for their opposition activities against the administration of Alexander Lukashenko, particularly following the mass protests of 2020. According to one account, at least 1,100 political prisoners reportedly remain imprisoned in Belarus.
Inside Belarusian Prisons: Tales of Detention and Resilience
Former prisoners have detailed various conditions of detention. Larysa Shchyrakova, jailed in 2022 for "extremism" and "discrediting" Belarus, reported that she missed her mother's funeral during her three years in prison. She stated that upon release, she left behind her son, home, dog, and possessions, and lacked official documents, facing potential arrest if she returned to Belarus. She described her situation as losing everything overnight. Opposition politician Mikola Statkevich reportedly exited the bus before it left Belarus and refused to cross the border; his current whereabouts are unknown, and it is believed he was returned to prison.
Solitary Confinement and Psychological Pressure
Mikalai Dziadok, a 37-year-old activist who spent five years in prison, reported being marked with a yellow tag. This designation, initially for prisoners at risk of suicide or escape, signified for political prisoners like Dziadok being "prone to extremism," resulting in tighter control and stricter treatment.
Dziadok recounted periods of solitary confinement where, he stated, prisoners in adjacent cells would shout insults and threats, preventing sleep, reading, writing, or thinking. He expressed his belief that these actions were directed by guards, with authorities aiming to "traumatise him as much as possible so that he could not take part in political activity in the future."
Dzmitry Kuchuk, another political prisoner released in September, reported that during his solitary confinement, guards would allegedly torment him with false claims about his mother's death or imminent release. Yevgeny Merkis, also released in September, described solitary cells as tiny and cold, with tiled floors, cold walls, and windows opened in winter if temperatures were above -5C. He stated that prisoners in solitary confinement had a special uniform and were not allowed to wear sweaters. At night, a wooden board with metal edges served as a bunk. Dziadok stated he performed exercises at night to keep warm.
Human rights groups indicate that solitary confinement is commonly employed in Belarus as a punishment for minor infractions by political prisoners, such as not greeting guards with sufficient volume, and view this practice as a method for authorities to exert psychological pressure on inmates. The Belarusian interior ministry was sought for comment by the BBC regarding these allegations but did not respond.
Acts of solidarity among prisoners were also reported. Yevgeny Merkis, from his cell, managed to send an anonymous message to Larysa Shchyrakova by scratching "trymaysya" (Belarusian for "hold on") and her name on a food bowl. Shchyrakova described this message as inspiring.
Life After Release: Exile, Challenges, and Hopes
Upon their arrival in Lithuania, where crowds gathered in anticipation, Larysa Shchyrakova received assistance from fellow expatriates. Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya welcomed the freed political prisoners. Initial arrivals in Vilnius, Lithuania, included seven foreign nationals and Ales Bialiatski among the Belarusian ex-prisoners. Maria Kolesnikova's sister, Tatsiana Khomich, stated she spoke with her sister via video call following her release. Kolesnikova, a professional flautist, had been held in isolation for much of her sentence exceeding five years. She expressed happiness regarding her freedom and reunion with others, while also acknowledging those who remain imprisoned.
Adaptation and New Realities
Maria Kolesnikova, who now resides in Berlin, Germany, was granted political asylum and medical care by German authorities. She reported that her health had significantly improved since her incarceration, during which she contracted a life-threatening condition after months in isolation. Kolesnikova currently relies on family for financial support and does not receive German state benefits. She possesses a German travel document for foreigners and a visa, but not a new Belarusian ID, as she and other released prisoners were exiled without official papers. She also mentioned efforts to resolve issues with her German bank account, which had been blocked due to sanctions against Belarusian citizens following Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Kolesnikova commented that her experience with a blocked bank account suggested sanctions could affect ordinary citizens more than leaders like Lukashenko or Russian President Vladimir Putin. She expressed concern that European politicians might not fully comprehend the difficulties faced by thousands of Belarusian refugees.
Advocacy and Future Outlook
Kolesnikova proposed three goals for European politicians when considering diplomatic initiatives with Lukashenko: securing the release of political prisoners, ending political repression in Belarus, and ending the country's isolation. Kolesnikova emphasized the importance of freeing political prisoners and suggested that Belarus's isolation primarily benefits Putin, potentially leading Belarusians without international exposure to turn eastward.
Reflecting on the 2020 protests against the presidential election, Kolesnikova stated she does not regret her actions. She commented that Belarusians were closer to democratic change than ever before and attributed the violent government response, including the jailing and mistreatment of thousands, to the decisions of Lukashenko and security forces. Prior to 2020, Kolesnikova had lived in Germany for 13 years.