UK-Belarus dual citizen Julia Fenner, who is the wife of a British diplomat, has been freed from prison by Belarus as part of a broader release agreed with the US. She had been given a long jail term last month after being detained on the border as she entered Belarus in March 2024. UK Europe Minister Stephen Doughty said 'it is great news that a British national has been brought home'. Fifty-two prisoners were freed from Belarus on Thursday as part of an agreement between US President Donald Trump and authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who is a close ally of Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
In exchange for the release of political prisoners, the US said it would relieve some sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, allowing the carrier to buy parts for its planes. Stephen Doughty called the release 'a significant breakthrough' and thanked the US for 'substantial diplomatic efforts to secure this outcome'. The prisoners released included trade union leaders, journalists, and activists, but more than 1,000 political prisoners remain in jail in Belarus.
Julia Fenner had previously worked at the British embassy in Minsk before marrying British diplomat Martin Fenner. She was recognized as a political prisoner who had been imprisoned in a penal colony. Although the reason for Belarus charging her was never explained, she was accused under two articles of the criminal code for active participation in actions that grossly violate public order and assistance to extremist activity.
All opposition has been quashed by Belarusian authoritarian leader Lukashenko. He described the release of the prisoners as a humanitarian gesture after meeting Donald Trump's special envoy in Minsk. Belarus's exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya observed that while the releases are promising, approximately 1,300 political prisoners remain incarcerated.
Tikhanovskaya expressed concern for the fate of Mikola Statkevich, a fellow dissident who refused to leave Belarus during the exchange and remains unaccounted for.
With increasing scrutiny over human rights in Belarus, international observers, including NATO members, are alert as tensions in the region rise amidst continuing military collaboration between Belarus and Russia.
In exchange for the release of political prisoners, the US said it would relieve some sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, allowing the carrier to buy parts for its planes. Stephen Doughty called the release 'a significant breakthrough' and thanked the US for 'substantial diplomatic efforts to secure this outcome'. The prisoners released included trade union leaders, journalists, and activists, but more than 1,000 political prisoners remain in jail in Belarus.
Julia Fenner had previously worked at the British embassy in Minsk before marrying British diplomat Martin Fenner. She was recognized as a political prisoner who had been imprisoned in a penal colony. Although the reason for Belarus charging her was never explained, she was accused under two articles of the criminal code for active participation in actions that grossly violate public order and assistance to extremist activity.
All opposition has been quashed by Belarusian authoritarian leader Lukashenko. He described the release of the prisoners as a humanitarian gesture after meeting Donald Trump's special envoy in Minsk. Belarus's exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya observed that while the releases are promising, approximately 1,300 political prisoners remain incarcerated.
Tikhanovskaya expressed concern for the fate of Mikola Statkevich, a fellow dissident who refused to leave Belarus during the exchange and remains unaccounted for.
With increasing scrutiny over human rights in Belarus, international observers, including NATO members, are alert as tensions in the region rise amidst continuing military collaboration between Belarus and Russia.
