'Never give up': Belarusian prisoners celebrate release after US lifts sanctions

December 14, 2025

Following complex negotiations led by the United States, Belarus has released 123 political prisoners who were jailed for opposing authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko's regime during the 2020 mass protests. The freed prisoners include prominent opposition figures like protest leader Maria Kolesnikova, presidential candidate Viktor Babaryka, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, all of whom had faced lengthy sentences. In exchange for the releases, President Lukashenko received diplomatic engagement with the US after years of isolation and had sanctions lifted on Belarus's potash exports, though European Union penalties remain in place.

Who is affected

123 political prisoners released from Belarus, including Maria Kolesnikova, Viktor Babaryka, and Ales Bialiatski
Families and relatives of released prisoners, including Tatsiana Khomich (Kolesnikova's sister)
Hundreds of political prisoners still detained in Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko and the Belarusian government
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and her team
The Belarusian people and opposition activists
US government and special envoy John Coale
Belarus's potash export industry

What action is being taken

123 political prisoners are being released and transported out of Belarus
Seven foreign nationals and Ales Bialiatski are being brought to Lithuania
Most Belarusian prisoners are being taken to Ukraine
The US is dropping sanctions on Belarus's potash exports
Families and activists are gathering outside the US embassy in Vilnius to greet released prisoners
The US is re-engaging with both Belarus and Russia seeking diplomatic dialogue

Why it matters

This represents a significant diplomatic breakthrough after years of Western isolation of Belarus following Lukashenko's brutal suppression of 2020 protests. The release signals a major shift in US foreign policy under President Trump toward engagement with authoritarian regimes allied with Russia, potentially affecting broader efforts to negotiate peace in Ukraine. For the Belarusian opposition, it provides hope while raising concerns about legitimizing Lukashenko's regime and whether sanctions relief could embolden further repression. The freedom of high-profile activists like Nobel laureate Bialiatski and protest icon Kolesnikova, who endured years of harsh imprisonment including solitary confinement, represents a rare victory for human rights advocacy, though hundreds of lesser-known political prisoners remain behind bars.

What's next

The released prisoners need to reunite with their families, with those sent to Ukraine requiring travel to join relatives waiting in Lithuania. Ales Bialiatski and advocacy organization Viasna plan to continue working toward the release of remaining political prisoners still detained in Belarus. Opposition leader Tikhanovskaya noted that sanctions can be reapplied if necessary, suggesting ongoing monitoring of Lukashenko's behavior. Bialiatski called on Belarusians to maintain "optimism and activism" and "never give up" in their struggle.

Read full article from source: BBC