Belarus Releases 52 Political Prisoners Following US Intervention, Sanctions Relief

Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 00:07 IST

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda confirmed the safe arrival of the freed prisoners across the Lithuanian border on Thursday.

The timing of the release is significant, coming just a day after Russian drones were spotted over Polish territory (Image: AP)

Belarus has released 52 political prisoners on Thursday, following US intervention and as part of a deal that included lifting certain sanctions on the country’s national airline, Belavia, reported AP. The development comes after a phone conversation last month between US President Donald Trump and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, signalling a potential thaw in relations between Washington and Minsk.

Among those released were three Polish nationals and eight Belarusian journalists who had previously worked with media outlets in Poland, according to a spokesperson for Poland’s foreign ministry, as reported by TVP World. Belarus’s state news agency BelTA confirmed that the group also included 14 foreign nationals from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda confirmed the safe arrival of the freed prisoners across the Lithuanian border on Thursday. “No man left behind! 52 prisoners safely crossed the Lithuanian border from Belarus today, leaving behind barbed wire, barred windows and constant fear,” he posted on X.

The release marks the largest number of prisoners pardoned at one time by President Lukashenko and appears to be a goodwill gesture aimed at improving ties with the West. Lukashenko, a close ally of Moscow, has faced years of isolation from Western nations due to his government’s human rights record and for allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The timing of the release is significant, coming just a day after Russian drones were spotted over Polish territory, violating NATO airspace. The incident angered several NATO leaders, including Trump. In this context, the freeing of political detainees may be seen as a signal of a possible rapprochement between Belarus and the US, despite the broader tensions between Russia and NATO.

During their recent phone call, President Trump reportedly suggested the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Lukashenko. However, no official plans have been announced.

In exchange for the prisoner release, the US has agreed to ease sanctions on Belarus’s national airline, Belavia. The sanctions relief will allow the airline to purchase and service Boeing aircraft, a US embassy spokesperson confirmed.

Lukashenko has previously used prisoner releases as a means of gaining favour with the West in hopes of reducing economic and diplomatic pressure on his regime.

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