Belarus Releases 52 Political Prisoners in Deal Brokered by the US

Belarusian authorities released 52 political prisoners on September 11, 2025, in what is widely considered the largest such release in years, following a deal brokered by the United States. The agreement, which included the lifting of some U.S. sanctions on Belarus’s state airline Belavia and discussions about reopening the U.S. embassy in Minsk, was announced after a meeting between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. envoy John Coale. The move is seen as a significant step in efforts to thaw relations between Washington and Minsk, which have been strained since the disputed 2020 presidential election and Belarus’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Details of the Release and International Response

Among those freed were journalists, bloggers, trade union leaders, and 14 foreign nationals, including citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Notably, nine journalists were released, though 27 remain imprisoned, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The French government confirmed the release of a French national and welcomed the U.S. mediation, while calling for an end to political repression in Belarus. Rights groups and the International Federation of Journalists hailed the release as a positive step but emphasized that nearly 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars and called for their immediate release.

Forced Deportation Allegations and Prisoner Testimonies

Despite the celebratory tone from some quarters, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her advisers described the event as a "forced deportation" rather than genuine liberation. Most of the released prisoners were immediately expelled to Lithuania, often without passports and with only temporary documents. At a press conference in Vilnius, several former detainees recounted harrowing experiences of torture, deprivation of medical care, and psychological abuse during their incarceration. Blogger Mikalai Dzjadok described the penal colonies as akin to "the Middle Ages," while trade union leader Aliaksandr Yarashuk called the prisons "torture factories."

One high-profile prisoner, former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, reportedly refused to leave Belarus and was last seen in a border zone between Belarus and Lithuania, with his current whereabouts unknown. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that all released individuals should have the right to choose whether to stay or leave the country.

Political Context and Ongoing Concerns

The release comes as Lukashenko seeks to repair ties with the West after years of isolation and sanctions. The U.S. administration, credited by both Belarusian officials and opposition figures for securing the release, indicated that further negotiations are ongoing for the release of additional prisoners. However, rights groups and opposition leaders remain critical, noting that the majority of political prisoners remain incarcerated and that the practice of forced deportation violates fundamental rights. The Belarusian government has not commented publicly on the release or the allegations of abuse and forced expulsion.

The event has drawn international attention to the ongoing human rights crisis in Belarus, with calls from European governments and advocacy organizations for a comprehensive end to political repression and for genuine dialogue between the government and civil society.