As reported by the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, those released include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Viktaravich Bialiatski and opposition activist Maria Kalesnikava. The Belarusian regime is said to have released 123 political prisoners under an agreement with the United States.
Among the 123 political prisoners released on Saturday are reportedly citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States, Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia, Australia, Japan, as well as Poland. Roman Gałuza was also freed from prison; he had been accused of “high treason” and had been held in a Belarusian pre-trial detention center since 2022.
As reported by the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, opposition activist Maria Kalesnikava was released, along with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Viktaravich Bialiatski, who was forcibly deported to Lithuania.
The authorities in Minsk also released former would-be presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka and Viasna activists Walancin Stefanowicz and Uladzimir Labkovich.
In total, 156 people were pardoned, taking into account decisions made by the leader of Belarus, Alaksandr Lukashenka, at the end of November.
Asked about the fate of Andrzej Poczobut, who was not released from Belarusian captivity, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ), Maciej Wewiór, said that “together with our partners, we are not ceasing our efforts to secure the release of Andrzej Poczobut as well,” he assured.
When asked whether it was true that Andrzej Poczobut had refused to write a petition to the Belarusian leader Alaksandr Lukashenka, Wewiór emphasized that he could not speak about the details of the negotiations. He noted that “there was also a proposal made to Andrzej Poczobut.”
“He did not agree, which does not mean that we, together with our partners, are no longer working toward securing his release,” the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ) stressed.