Belarus Releases 123 Prisoners, Including Nobel Laureate, as U.S. Sanctions Lifted

Belarus freed 123 prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, as part of a Washington deal that lifted U.S. sanctions on the country’s vital fertilizer exports.

Released Prisoners

Ales Bialiatski, a 63‑year‑old human‑rights advocate who founded the Belarusian rights group Viasna, had spent 1,613 days in jail awaiting trial. He was convicted of smuggling and financing actions that violated public order—charges widely denounced as politically motivated—and sentenced to 10 years. Speaking to AP, he said his release surprised him and felt “like I jumped out of icy water into a normal, warm room.” He vowed to continue his human‑rights work, adding that “more than a thousand political prisoners in Belarus remain behind bars simply because they chose freedom. And, of course, I am their voice.”

Maria Kolesnikova, a 43‑year‑old professional flutist and key figure in the 2020 protests, was convicted in 2021 on charges including conspiracy to seize power and sentenced to 11 years. She fell seriously ill behind bars and underwent surgery. After her release she said “It’s a feeling of incredible happiness!” and added “To see the eyes of the people who are dear to me, to hug them, to understand that we are all free people now. At the same time, I am thinking about those people who are not yet free, and I am very much looking forward to the moment when we can all hug each other.”

Viktar Babaryka, a 62‑year‑old banker and former presidential hopeful, was convicted on corruption charges widely seen as politically driven and sentenced to 14 years in July 2021. The U.S. embassy had denounced the verdict as “cruel sham.” He was jailed less than two months before the 2020 vote. Alongside him, lawyer Maxim Znak, who was convicted with Babaryka, was also released.

Maryna Zolatava, editor of the independent news site Tut.by, was arrested in May 2021 and sentenced to 12 years on charges of incitement and distributing materials urging actions against national security. International journalism groups had called for her release. She was among those freed on Saturday.

Prisoners Still Behind Bars

Andrzej Poczobut, a 52‑year‑old correspondent for the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and a leading figure in Belarus’s Polish minority, was arrested in March 2021. He was convicted in February 2023 of “damaging national security” and “inciting hatred” for his coverage of the 2020 protests and sentenced to eight years. He was sent to a harsh maximum‑security prison despite concerns about his health and has repeatedly refused to ask Lukashenko for a pardon.

Other inmates remaining in custody include Viasna activists Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Eduard Babaryka, the son of the former presidential candidate who helped run his father’s campaign.

Key Takeaways

• 123 prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, were released as part of a U.S. sanctions relief deal.
• Key opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova, Viktar Babaryka, and journalist Maryna Zolatava also gained freedom.
• Several high‑profile activists and journalists, such as Andrzej Poczobut, remain imprisoned.

The releases mark a significant shift in Belarus’s domestic policy amid international pressure, but the continued detention of dozens of opposition figures underscores the ongoing struggle for political freedom in the country.