The US embassy in Vilnius first reported the releases, which Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda later confirmed, saying the former prisoners “safely crossed” from Belarus into Lithuania. He thanked the United States and noted six Lithuanian nationals were among those freed.
Belarus’ state news agency BelTA said Lukashenko pardoned 14 foreigners, including two Latvians, two German citizens, one French and one British.
BelTA said the move came at the request of US President Donald Trump and other leaders, and that those released had been convicted in Belarus on charges including “espionage” and “participation in extremist and terrorist activities” — formulations used against opposition figures and participants in pro-democracy protests.
Independent Belarusian media named several of the freed, including opposition politician and former presidential candidate Mikola Statkevich, philosopher Vladimir Matskevich, activist Mikola Dziadok, opposition blogger Ihar Losik and Lithuanian citizen Elena Ramanauskiene.
Nausėda called the releases a major US diplomatic success but added that “more than 1,000 political prisoners still remain in Belarusian jails.”
BelTA reported that Lukashenko met in Minsk shortly before the news with John Coale, an envoy of President Trump, and proposed discussing political prisoners.
“I understand that [Donald Trump] is concerned about hostages, political prisoners. Let’s discuss this topic as well,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying, adding that “no one in Belarus supports people staying in penal colonies, especially for political reasons.”
“If Donald insists that he is ready to take all those released people, God be with you, let’s try to work out a global agreement,” Lukashenko said, according to BelTA. The meeting also covered Belarus-US relations and US interests in Belarus, the agency added.
(jh)
Source: PAP