Dozens of political prisoners have been freed from Belarusian prisons as part of a deal between authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and US President Donald Trump.
Fifty-two prisoners have been released, including trade union leaders, journalists, and activists, but more than 1,000 political prisoners remain in jail.
In exchange, the US has said it will relieve some sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, allowing it to buy parts for its airlines.
The prisoner release came on the eve of joint military exercises involving Belarus and close ally Russia and follows what neighboring Poland called an unprecedented Russian drone incursion into its airspace.
Poland is closing its borders with Belarus due to the Zapad-2025 drills, which last until Tuesday. Latvia is closing part of its airspace. Russia's foreign ministry condemned Poland's leadership for its 'confrontational steps' in closing the border. Meanwhile, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that 'Putin is mocking the efforts' by the West to deal with him.
Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, described the release of the prisoners as a humanitarian gesture after meeting Trump special envoy John Coale in the capital Minsk. They discussed how they could re-establish a trade relationship, including reopening the US embassy in Minsk.
The US closed its embassy in February 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Coale said he did not yet have a date for the embassy's reopening but indicated it would happen 'in the very near future.'
Belarus, eager to build an economic relationship with the US after being hit with sanctions, has also seen sanctions on Belavia lifted in conjunction with the prisoner releases. The airline faced sanctions after its controllers diverted a Ryanair flight in 2021.
Many political prisoners in Belarus have been jailed since Lukashenko crushed protests following contested presidential elections in 2020. The recent pardons bolster efforts to reduce tensions between Belarus and the EU and the US, according to Human Rights Watch.
Among the 52 freed were several notable figures, including philosopher Vladimir Matskevich and journalist Igor Losik. However, only some of the prisoners are being offered the option of exile rather than returning home.
Some opposition members have expressed concern over being forced into exile. For instance, Mikola Statkevich, a key opposition leader, refused to leave Belarus despite being offered freedom.
With over 1,000 political prisoners still in detention, Lukashenko's government continues to face scrutiny and calls for reform from both domestic and international observers.
Fifty-two prisoners have been released, including trade union leaders, journalists, and activists, but more than 1,000 political prisoners remain in jail.
In exchange, the US has said it will relieve some sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, allowing it to buy parts for its airlines.
The prisoner release came on the eve of joint military exercises involving Belarus and close ally Russia and follows what neighboring Poland called an unprecedented Russian drone incursion into its airspace.
Poland is closing its borders with Belarus due to the Zapad-2025 drills, which last until Tuesday. Latvia is closing part of its airspace. Russia's foreign ministry condemned Poland's leadership for its 'confrontational steps' in closing the border. Meanwhile, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that 'Putin is mocking the efforts' by the West to deal with him.
Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, described the release of the prisoners as a humanitarian gesture after meeting Trump special envoy John Coale in the capital Minsk. They discussed how they could re-establish a trade relationship, including reopening the US embassy in Minsk.
The US closed its embassy in February 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Coale said he did not yet have a date for the embassy's reopening but indicated it would happen 'in the very near future.'
Belarus, eager to build an economic relationship with the US after being hit with sanctions, has also seen sanctions on Belavia lifted in conjunction with the prisoner releases. The airline faced sanctions after its controllers diverted a Ryanair flight in 2021.
Many political prisoners in Belarus have been jailed since Lukashenko crushed protests following contested presidential elections in 2020. The recent pardons bolster efforts to reduce tensions between Belarus and the EU and the US, according to Human Rights Watch.
Among the 52 freed were several notable figures, including philosopher Vladimir Matskevich and journalist Igor Losik. However, only some of the prisoners are being offered the option of exile rather than returning home.
Some opposition members have expressed concern over being forced into exile. For instance, Mikola Statkevich, a key opposition leader, refused to leave Belarus despite being offered freedom.
With over 1,000 political prisoners still in detention, Lukashenko's government continues to face scrutiny and calls for reform from both domestic and international observers.
