Belarus Frees Nobel Laureate and Opposition Figures; US Eases Sanctions

VILNIUS, Lithuania — In a move that followed two days of negotiations with Washington, Belarus released Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, prominent opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, and dozens of other political prisoners on Saturday. The talks aimed to improve relations between the two countries and led to the lifting of U.S. sanctions on a key Belarusian agricultural export.

According to Belarus' state news agency, Belta, President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 prisoners. The United States responded by lifting sanctions on Belarus' potash sector.

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has long faced Western isolation and sanctions. President Lukashenko has maintained a firm grip on the nation of 9.5 million for over three decades. The West has repeatedly sanctioned Belarus for human rights violations and for its role in allowing Moscow to use its territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

John Coale, the U.S. special envoy for Belarus, described the talks with Lukashenko in Minsk on Friday and Saturday as “very productive.” Belta reported that Coale stated the goal was to normalize relations between the U.S. and Belarus.

“We’re lifting sanctions, releasing prisoners. We’re constantly talking to each other,” Coale said. The Belarusian news agency quoted him as saying that the U.S. and Belarus are moving from “baby steps to more confident steps” through increased dialogue.

Since July 2024, Belarus has released hundreds of prisoners. Among the 123 freed on Saturday was a U.S. citizen.