December 13, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has pardoned 123 political prisoners in a deal negotiated earlier in the day with US special envoy John Coale in Minsk.
The group has been confirmed to include Maryja Kaleśnikava, a campaign manager for former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, human rights defenders Aleś Bialacki, Valancin Stefanovič and Uładzimir Łabkovič, Japanese national Nakanisi Masatosi, as well as Raman Hałuza, Illa Kniazieŭ, Natalla Bielskaja and Viačasłaŭ Papšo.
Those released include five Ukrainians, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Babaryka and his associate, Maksim Znak, were also on the list of persons to be freed, but their release has not yet been confirmed.
All those released have been taken out of Belarus, said Dzianis Kučynski, opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s aide. Most of them are likely to be taken to Vilnius.
In return, Washington is lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizers.
Speaking to journalists outside of the US embassy in Vilnius, Taćciana Chomič, Kaleśnikava’s sister, welcomed the pardons, noting that the lifting of potash sanctions was a fair price. “Nothing costs more than the lives of people in prison,” she said.
Coale is expected to arrive in the embassy soon.
