Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko released 123 prisoners over the weekend, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition figure Maria Kalesnikava. This move followed negotiations with a representative of U.S. President Donald Trump, leading to the lifting of sanctions on Belarusian potash, a vital ingredient in fertilizers.
This prisoner release marked the largest under Lukashenko since the Trump administration initiated discussions earlier this year with the long-standing authoritarian leader, who is closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko had faced international isolation due to his suppression of dissent and support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Among those freed were Bialiatski, a renowned human rights activist who had advocated for political prisoners before being imprisoned in July 2021. Kalesnikava, known for her role in the 2020 protests against Lukashenko, and Viktar Babaryka, detained while preparing to challenge the president in an election, were also released. Kalesnikava’s sister, Tatsiana Khomich, expressed gratitude for the U.S. and Trump’s involvement in the process.
The destination of the newly freed individuals remained uncertain, though past instances saw released prisoners departing Belarus through Lithuania. U.S. officials emphasized engagement with Lukashenko as a strategy to lessen his ties with Putin, an approach met with skepticism by Belarusian opposition groups.
John Coale, Trump’s envoy, confirmed the U.S.’s commitment to lifting potash sanctions in line with the president’s directives. Sanctions had been imposed by the U.S., Canada, and the EU following Belarus’s violent crackdown on protesters after the disputed 2020 election, further intensified when Belarus became a staging ground for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Belarusian opposition, while acknowledging the humanitarian aspect of Trump’s engagement with Lukashenko, maintained that EU sanctions should persist for broader systemic change. Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stressed the dual significance of U.S. and EU sanctions in addressing human rights abuses and promoting democratic transition in Belarus.
Despite Lukashenko’s denial of political prisoners in Belarus, the release was seen as a response to international pressure. Trump’s characterization of Lukashenko as a respected leader clashed with opposition views, with calls for the release of additional detainees still in custody.
Belarusian human rights organization Viasna reported 1,227 political prisoners before the recent releases, highlighting the ongoing challenges. Trump’s envoy Coale suggested Lukashenko’s rapport with Putin could be valuable in resolving the Ukraine conflict, with discussions also touching on Venezuela’s internal dynamics.