Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has released 123 political prisoners following a request from his American counterpart Donald Trump, DPA reported, citing authorities, BTA reports.
Opposition and human rights activists reported that among those released were prominent opposition figures such as Maria Kolesnikova, one of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureates Ales Bialiatski and former presidential candidate Viktor Babariko.
The release took place within the framework of agreements reached with Trump “and at his request”, Lukashenko's press service in Minsk reported. It was also made as a gesture stemming from “the requests of other heads of state and for humanitarian reasons, as well as based on common human and family values“.
The release of prisoners is aimed at accelerating the positive dynamics in relations with Belarus' partner countries and stabilizing the situation in the entire European region, the Belarusian president's press service added.
Another reason was the already lifted sanctions against the export of potassium carbonate from Belarus, the leadership in Minsk announced.
Initially, there was no official list of those released by Lukashenko, who has previously released prisoners at the insistence of the United States.
Lukashenko pardoned citizens from various countries “who were convicted under the laws of the Republic of Belarus for various crimes - espionage, terrorist and extremist activities“, his press service said. The prisoners have always denied the charges. They were considered political prisoners.
Maria Kolesnikova was one of the leaders of the mass protests after the 2020 presidential election, which was marked by unprecedented allegations of manipulation.
Lukashenko crushed the protests, and Kolesnikova was arrested in September 2020 and sentenced a year later to 11 years in prison for plotting to overthrow the government.
The Belarusian president recently released dozens of prisoners and has indicated his willingness to release her as well. However, he said that Kolesnikova would have to write a letter of pardon to a politician who is now derided as Europe's last dictator. After more than five years in prison, Kolesnikova was also released today.
Opposition representatives based in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius said she no longer lives in Belarus.
Hundreds of Lukashenko's critics remain in prison in the authoritarian-ruled country, DPA noted.