‘Never give up’: Belarus frees 123 political prisoners after US sanctions rollback
For days, speculation had been growing that a major release of political prisoners in Belarus was imminent. But details were kept tightly under wraps. No names were confirmed, and no numbers shared, until everyone involved was safely out of custody.
When the announcement finally came, the scale was striking: 123 political detainees were freed, including some of the most prominent figures from Belarus’s opposition movement, civil society and independent media.
Among them was Maria Kolesnikova, the protest leader whose red lipstick became a symbol of defiance during the 2020 demonstrations. Footage of her embracing fellow former prisoners, visibly overwhelmed with emotion, quickly spread online. In another video filmed on a bus leaving Belarus, she thanked those who had worked behind the scenes to secure her freedom.
“It’s an indescribable happiness to see my loved ones again, to hold them and know we are free,” she said, her trademark red lipstick back in place. Yet she also stressed that the moment was incomplete. “I keep thinking about those who are still behind bars. True freedom will come only when everyone is released.”
Also freed was Viktor Babaryka, a former banker who attempted to challenge Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election before being jailed. Ales Bialiatski, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the human rights group Viasna, was released from a 10-year sentence.
All had been imprisoned following the mass protests that erupted after Belarus’s disputed election, which were violently suppressed by the authorities. Those demonstrations represented the most serious challenge to Lukashenko’s rule in decades.
The releases followed lengthy negotiations led by the United States, culminating in a rare visit to Minsk by Donald Trump’s newly appointed special envoy, John Coale. For Lukashenko, renewed dialogue with Washington marks a diplomatic breakthrough after years of isolation.
In return, the US agreed to lift sanctions on Belarus’s potash exports, a vital source of revenue for the country. European Union sanctions, however, remain firmly in place.
Washington has not publicly detailed what it hopes to gain from the deal. But Belarus’s close ties to Russia — particularly amid the war in Ukraine — suggest the move is part of a broader effort by the US to re-engage in the region.
Many of the released prisoners were expected to be taken to Vilnius, Lithuania, where families, friends and activists gathered outside the US embassy in freezing temperatures, some wrapped in Belarus’s red-and-white opposition flag.
For Tatsiana Khomich, Kolesnikova’s sister, the moment was almost unreal. “I’ve spoken to Masha. She’s doing well,” she said after a video call. “I still just want to hug her. I can’t quite believe this is happening.”
Kolesnikova, a professional flautist before her arrest, spent long periods in solitary confinement and was denied contact with her family for much of her sentence.
Confusion followed when it emerged that only a handful of former prisoners, including Bialiatski and several foreign nationals, had arrived in Lithuania. Others, including Kolesnikova, were instead transported through Ukraine, delaying long-awaited reunions.
Opposition figures suggested the move reflected Lukashenko’s desire to maintain control until the very last moment.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya acknowledged the complexity of the negotiations. “These people were hostages of the regime,” she said. “Ideally, nothing should be given in exchange. But diplomacy works this way. Sanctions can always be reinstated.”
When Bialiatski eventually stepped out of the US embassy in Vilnius, the crowd erupted in applause. Looking frail after four years in prison, he described being driven across Belarus blindfolded before his release.
Asked what he wanted most, his answer was immediate: “To see my wife.”
Yet he also reminded supporters that hundreds of political prisoners remain jailed in Belarus.
“We must continue fighting for those still inside,” he said. “Their freedom matters just as much.”
Before leaving, Bialiatski raised the red-and-white flag and offered a final message to Belarusians at home and abroad:
“Optimism. Activism. And never give up.”
