Wed Dec 17 04:20:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
Belarus released Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, and over 100 other prisoners following talks with the US, which simultaneously lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash exports. The US Special Envoy described the talks as productive and aimed at normalizing relations. This move comes after Belarus has faced Western isolation and sanctions due to its human rights record and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Those released include US citizens, citizens of allied countries, and Ukrainians. While seen as a positive step, opposition leaders caution against naivety, pointing to ongoing repression and Belarus’s continued support for Russia’s war. The talks also touched on resolving tensions between Belarus and Lithuania.
News Article:
Belarus Frees Nobel Laureate, Opposition Figures as US Lifts Sanctions
MINSK, BELARUS – In a significant development, Belarus has released Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, prominent opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, and over 100 other prisoners, as announced Saturday. This comes on the heels of two days of talks between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and US Special Envoy John Coale aimed at improving relations and securing the lifting of US sanctions on Belarus’s vital potash sector.
The United States confirmed the removal of sanctions on Belarus’s potash industry, a major revenue source for the country, in exchange for the release of 123 prisoners. The move signals a potential shift in US-Belarusian relations, which have been strained for years due to Lukashenko’s authoritarian rule and Belarus’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“We’re lifting sanctions, releasing prisoners. We’re constantly talking to each other,” Coale stated, adding that the relationship between the US and Belarus was moving from “baby steps to more confident steps”.
Among those released were a US citizen, several citizens of US-allied countries, and Ukrainian nationals. The US official described the release as “a significant milestone in U.S.-Belarus engagement” and “yet another diplomatic victory” for US President Donald Trump.
Bialiatski, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while imprisoned in 2022, expressed surprise at his release but vowed to continue advocating for the remaining political prisoners in Belarus. Kolesnikova, a key figure in the 2020 protests, also walked free after years of imprisonment.
However, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, currently in exile, urged caution, stating, “Lukashenko hasn’t changed his policies, his crackdown continues, and he keeps on supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.” She emphasized the need for long-term, systemic changes in Belarus and an end to Russian aggression.
Discussions between the US and Belarus also addressed the situation in Ukraine, with Coale noting Lukashenko’s “good advice” on the matter. Furthermore, the US official emphasized the importance of resolving tensions between Belarus and Lithuania, including the issue of meteorological balloons from Belarus disrupting Lithuanian airspace.
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