Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski were released on Saturday alongside more than 120 other political detainees following a landmark agreement mediated by the United States, according to rights organisations.
President Alexander Lukashenko has jailed thousands of opponents, critics, and demonstrators since the disputed 2020 presidential election, which rights groups say was rigged and sparked weeks of mass protests across Belarus.
Kolesnikova emerged as one of the most recognisable faces of the 2020 demonstrations that nearly ended Lukashenko’s long rule, which began in 1994. She famously tore up her passport while security agents attempted to force her out of the country.
Bialiatski, a 63-year-old veteran human rights activist and recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, has long been regarded by Lukashenko as a personal adversary after decades spent documenting state abuses.
“Ales Bialiatski is free!” Viasna, the rights group he founded and chairs, announced on social media, revealing he had spent 1,613 days in detention.
“I spoke with him, he is travelling to Lithuania, and he is feeling well,” his wife, Natalia Pinchuk, told AFP.
Kolesnikova’s sister, Tatiana Khomich, said initial fears over her condition were eased after brief contact.
“She thanked the United States for President (Donald) Trump’s efforts and the Belarusian side for holding these negotiations,” Khomich said.
Relatives and journalists gathered outside the US embassy in Vilnius as some of the released prisoners were expected to arrive. Viasna later shared a photograph of Kolesnikova, saying she had been transferred to Ukraine.
Authorities in Minsk also released Viktor Babariko, a former banker who attempted to challenge Lukashenko in the 2020 election but was imprisoned instead.
Rights groups, family members, and state media confirmed that at least 123 people, including foreign nationals, were freed after Washington agreed to lift some sanctions on Minsk, a close ally of Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said five Ukrainians were among those released.
The development marked the first substantial mass release of political prisoners in years, following intense diplomatic negotiations.
What you should know
Maria Kolesnikova and Ales Bialiatski became global symbols of resistance to authoritarian rule in Belarus after the disputed 2020 election.
Their detention drew sustained international condemnation, with concerns over isolation, health deterioration, and harsh prison conditions. The US-brokered deal that secured their freedom represents a rare diplomatic breakthrough with the Lukashenko government and involved partial sanctions relief.
While rights groups welcomed the release of more than 120 detainees, they stress that hundreds of political prisoners remain behind bars, and systemic repression in Belarus continues.
