Belarus Releases Dissident Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 Others After US Envoy's Visit

Belarus has released Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a significant dissident and husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, along with 13 others. This followed a rare visit by a senior US official, as announced by Tsikhanouskaya's team. Tsikhanouski, a well-known blogger and activist imprisoned in 2020, arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania, with the other freed political prisoners.

Political Prisoners Released

The release occurred shortly after Belarusian authorities revealed that President Alexander Lukashenko met with US President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine in Minsk. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking US official to visit Belarus in years. A video on Tsikhanouskaya's Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski stepping out of a minibus, embracing his wife as supporters cheered.

"My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya expressed to reporters. However, she emphasised that their work is "not finished" since over 1,100 political prisoners remain detained in Belarus. Tsikhanouski was jailed after announcing plans to challenge Lukashenko in the 2020 election. His wife ran in his place, drawing large crowds.

Protests and Crackdown

The 2020 election results granted Lukashenko a sixth term but were condemned by the opposition and Western nations as fraudulent. Following the election, tens of thousands protested, leading to over 35,000 arrests and police violence. Many opposition figures fled or were jailed. Tsikhanouski received a 19½-year sentence for organising mass riots.

Lukashenko extended his rule for a seventh term after a January 2025 election criticised by the opposition as a sham. Since July 2024, he has pardoned nearly 300 people, including US citizens, aiming to improve relations with the West. During the Minsk meeting, Lukashenko warmly welcomed Kellogg and the American delegation.

"I really hope that our conversation will be very sincere and open," Lukashenko stated. "Otherwise, what is the point of meeting? If we are clever and cunning in front of each other, we will not achieve results." His press secretary later said that Lukashenko released the prisoners at US President Donald Trump's request.

International Relations

It remains uncertain if Kellogg's visit might lead to easing some US sanctions against Minsk. These sanctions were imposed due to the harsh crackdown on 2020 protests and Lukashenko's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Lukashenko is clearly trying to get out of international isolation," said Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich.

"Lukashenko is trying to loosen the knot with which the Kremlin tied him," Karbalevich added. Belarus has allowed Russia to use its territory for military operations against Ukraine and station forces there.

Ongoing Detentions

Despite these releases, many prominent dissidents remain imprisoned in Belarus. Among them is Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, serving a 10-year sentence on charges deemed politically motivated. Bialiatski was arrested during KGB raids in 2021 and convicted in March 2023 for alleged extremist activities.

Bialiatski's family and supporters assert that his charges are politically driven. A UN panel has called for his release. In 2022, while imprisoned, Bialiatski received the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Russian rights group Memorial and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties.

Journalists Under Threat

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent Ihar Karnei was also released alongside Tsikhanouski. Karnei had been serving a three-year sentence on extremism charges he rejected as false. "The release was a big surprise for me," Karnei told AP by phone.

Karnei spent about six months in solitary confinement and stated that many suffer simply for their beliefs under harsh conditions. RFE/RL's Belarusian service has been labelled extremist by authorities, making it criminal to work for or share its content.

"We are deeply grateful to President Trump for securing the release of this brave journalist," said RFE/RL CEO Stephen Capus. Karnei had been detained multiple times while covering protests but chose to stay in Belarus despite repression.

Belarus remains Europe's leading jailer of journalists, with at least 40 serving long sentences according to Reporters Without Borders and the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

An Estonian national who established an NGO for Belarusian refugees was also freed. Allan Roio had been detained last January and sentenced to six-and-a-half years on charges related to forming an extremist organisation, as reported by Estonia's Foreign Ministry.

The release of these individuals marks a significant moment amid ongoing tensions between Belarus and Western nations over human rights issues and international relations.

With inputs from PTI