In a significant diplomatic move, Belarus has announced the release of 123 prisoners, a group that includes prominent figures such as Nobel peace prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and leading opposition activist Maria Kalesnikava. This large-scale release, the biggest since talks began, comes in the wake of the United States lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash, a crucial export for the country. The decision followed two days of discussions with an envoy representing US President Donald Trump, marking the latest step in the Trump administration's ongoing diplomatic engagement with the autocratic Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko.

This rapprochement is part of a broader effort by the Lukashenko regime to improve its relations with Western nations. Belarus, a steadfast ally of Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, has largely faced international isolation from European and other Western states due to its severe human rights record and brutal crackdowns on public protests. US officials indicated that this gradual détente is aimed at drawing Belarus away from Putin's sphere of influence, though Belarusian opposition groups have voiced skepticism regarding this objective.

The announcement of the prisoners' release, which encompassed top opposition figures and human rights campaigners, was met with considerable fanfare. Ales Bialiatski, a co-recipient of the 2022 Nobel peace prize, is a renowned human rights advocate who was jailed in July 2021 after years of campaigning on behalf of political prisoners. Maria Kalesnikava, a key figure among the trio of women who led the widespread 2020 protests against Lukashenko, was also freed. Additionally, Viktar Babaryka, who was arrested in 2020 while attempting to challenge Lukashenko in a presidential election, was among those released.

Reports from human rights groups indicate that many of the prisoners suffered declining health during their detention, attributing this to mistreatment by the authorities. Tatsiana Khomich, Maria Kalesnikava’s sister, expressed her sister’s gratitude to the US for its role in securing her release. Khomich conveyed to Reuters, “She told me she is very happy to be freed, that she is thankful to the USA and Trump for their efforts in leading the process, and to all countries involved.” Relatives of some of the released prisoners congregated outside the US embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, anticipating their arrival from Belarus. Ukrainian authorities also confirmed that 114 civilians, comprising both Ukrainian and Belarusian citizens, were transferred to Ukraine.

John Coale, Trump’s Belarus envoy, confirmed to reporters in Minsk that the US would lift sanctions on potash, stating it was “as per the instructions of president Trump.” The US and the European Union had initially imposed sanctions on Belarus following the government's violent crackdown on popular protests after a contested 2020 election, which involved mass detentions and alleged torture of political opponents. Further sanctions were enacted in 2022 after Belarus facilitated Russia's use of its territory for the invasion of Ukraine.

Belarusian opposition figures, while thanking Trump for his efforts, asserted that the prisoner release underscored the effectiveness of the sanctions regime on the autocratic government. They urged for EU sanctions to remain in place, with exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasizing their critical importance for “enabling democratic transition and ensuring accountability.” In contrast, Lukashenko has consistently denied holding political prisoners, labeling those in his prisons as “bandits” and state opponents. However, the Belarusian human rights group Viasna, which is banned in the country, reports that 1,227 political prisoners still remain incarcerated.

In statements published by Belarus’s state media, Coale also suggested that Lukashenko could play a role in assisting negotiations with President Putin. The Trump administration has been actively involved in mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine, aiming to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Coale was quoted by state news agency Belta as saying, “Your president has a long history with president Putin and has the ability to advise him. This is very useful in this situation. They are longtime friends and have the necessary level of relationship to discuss such issues.”