VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Belarus freed 52 political prisoners on Thursday, as the United States announced it was lifting some sanctions on the isolated country’s national airline.
Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus’ opposition leader in exile, warned that lifting sanctions could create new leverage for both Minsk and Moscow, whose aviation industry has been heavily sanctioned.
The official spoke spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic conversations.
He said the prisoners left “behind barbed wire, barred windows and constant fear Almost 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, according to Viasna.
Trump and Lukashenko spoke last month about the release of more prisoners, as the Belarusian leader sought to mend ties with the West.
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — The U.S. said it was removing some sanctions on the national airline of the isolated nation, while Belarus released 52 political prisoners on Thursday.
Western sanctions have been imposed on Belarus, a close ally of Russia, on numerous occasions for its human rights violations and for permitting Moscow to invade Ukraine in 2022. For more than 30 years, Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s president, has ruled the 91.5 million-person country with an iron fist, and hundreds of people, including journalists, opposition leaders, and dissidents, are imprisoned.
However, Lukashenko has been trying to improve relations with the West for over a year in an effort to lessen the sanctions and the nation’s isolation from the rest of the world. He has a history of releasing prisoners to gain favor.
After a visit by a senior U.S. envoy in June, Belarus released 13 other people, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a prominent dissident and the husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. A. Donald Trump, the president.
Belarusian state media shared a video of U. just prior to Thursday’s public release. A. John Coale, the ambassador, declared that Washington had removed the sanctions imposed on Belavia, the national airline of Belarus. The European Union and the United States both imposed sanctions on the airline. S. . and others following the order from Belarusian flight controllers for a commercial aircraft en route from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk. Raman Pratasevich, a dissident journalist on board, was taken into custody by authorities after the plane touched down.
An inquiry was not immediately answered by the White House.
The United States’ concession. S. . occurs one day after Poland condemned what Western officials described as an act of aggression—the entry of Russian drones, some of which were from Belarus—into its territory. After a scramble, some of the drones were shot down by NATO jets. To begin war games on Friday, Russian and Belarusian troops have been assembling.
“What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” was Trump’s vague initial response to the incursions, given that his nation is NATO’s leading military power.
The opposition leader of Belarus in exile, Tsikhanouskaya, cautioned that removing the sanctions might give Moscow and Minsk more clout, as their aviation sector has been strongly targeted.
She said to The Associated Press, “We recognize that this is a component of the agreement.”. However, if sanctions are lifted without fundamental reforms in the nation, there may be gaps that Russia and the Lukashenko regime can exploit to get around them. “.”.
As stated by a U. S. . official, Belavia’s penalties were loosened. This will enable the airline to repair and purchase parts for its aircraft, including those made by Boeing. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official discussed confidential diplomatic discussions.
Released inmate declines to travel to Lithuania.
AP was informed by two people who spoke to Mikalai Statkevich, a veteran opposition activist who was one of the prisoners released Thursday, that he refused to enter Lithuania. They discussed delicate subjects while speaking on condition of anonymity.
The 69-year-old was reportedly in the area between Belarus and Lithuania. He made multiple attempts to enter Belarus again, but border guards stopped him. Gitanas Nauseda, the president of Lithuania, had earlier declared that the prisoners had entered his nation without incident.
One of Lukashenko’s most well-known and affable rivals, Statkevich, tried to run for president in 2010 but was detained, found guilty of planning mass riots, and given a six-year sentence. After pressure from the US, he was freed in 2015 after being recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.
Before the 2020 elections, Statkevich was arrested once more, convicted of planning mass riots once more, and given a further 14-year sentence. His incommunicado status began in February 2023.
Another person freed was U journalist Ihar Losik. S. . Human rights organization Viasna claims that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a government-funded broadcaster. According to the broadcaster, the 33-year-old was found guilty of “organizing mass riots, taking part in mass disorder, inciting social hatred,” among other unspecified charges. In December 2021, he received a 15-year prison sentence.
Fourteen foreigners were also among the inmates: two Latvians, two Poles, two Germans, one Frenchman, and six Lithuanians. The K. national — as stated by the press office of the Belarusian presidency.
The United States and President @realDonaldTrump in particular have my sincere gratitude for their ongoing efforts to free political prisoners. 52 is a lot. a huge number. However, Nauseda wrote on X, “We cannot stop until they see freedom and more than 1,000 political prisoners still remain in Belarusian prisons.”. According to him, the inmates were left “with barred windows, barbed wire, and constant fear.”.
According to Viasna, there are still nearly 1,200 political prisoners in Belarus.
Dissent has long been suppressed by Lukashenko.
Following his reelection in August 2020, which was widely viewed as a rigged vote, Lukashenko has ruthlessly clamped down on the opposition and independent media. They were the biggest demonstrations in the history of the nation.
During the subsequent crackdown, police beat many of the tens of thousands of people who were arrested. Prominent opposition leaders were imprisoned or left the country.
After an election in January 2025 that the opposition also referred to as a farce, Lukashenko has since extended his rule for a seventh term.
As the Belarusian leader attempted to restore relations with the West, Trump and Lukashenko discussed last month the release of additional prisoners.
During his meeting with Lukashenko in the Belarusian capital on Thursday, Coale, Trump’s deputy envoy for Ukraine, declared that Belavia would no longer be subject to sanctions.
Belavia, Belarus’ sole national airline, was established in 1996. Outraged EU leaders banned Belavia from EU airports and airspace, ordered European carriers to stay out of Belarusian airspace, and imposed sanctions following the plane diversion to arrest Pratasevich.
Belavia reduced its fleet from 29 to 14 aircraft as a result.
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