13:00
Those released also include journalist Kiryl Pazniak.
Alaksandraŭ and his girlfriend Iryna Złobina were arrested on January 12, 2021.
In October 2022, judge Viačasłaŭ Tulejka of the Minsk Regional Court sentenced Alaksandraŭ to 14 years in prison and Złobina to nine years, on charges widely seen as politically motivated, including high treason, tax evasion and organizing actions grossly disturbing public order. Rights groups consider both political prisoners. They married in custody in September 2022.
Navažyłaŭ headed BelaPAN from August 2018, following the death of founder Aleś Lipaj, until January 2021. He was arrested on August 18, 2021, together with Iryna Leŭšyna, the editor-in-chief who succeeded him as CEO. He had less than three months left to his sentence. Now that he has been taken to Lithuania, he may not be able to return to Belarus soon.
12:55
The group of dissidents freed after Coale’s talks with Lukašenka includes former BelaPAN CEO Dźmitryj Navažyłaŭ, media manager Andrej Alaksandaraŭ and his wife Iryna Złobina, according to a picture posted on Coale’s X account.
The photo also features other well-known designated political prisoners. All of them are now in Lithuania.
12:52
12:42
Coale said the negotiations had required considerable time. “I think we are making great progress and everything will continue,” he said in a video posted by Pul Pervogo.
The sides reached an interim agreement, with Minsk agreeing to free 25 people as a sign of goodwill, the diplomat noted. The sides would continue addressing the remaining issues and once a final agreement is reached, additional individuals will be released and sanctions against Belarusian companies will be lifted, he added.
12:38
Coale on X:
“25 prisoners are free today! President Trump’s commitment to direct diplomacy delivers results. Thank you, President Lukashenka, for this step, and thank you to our friends in Lithuania for their support. We will continue to improve US-Belarus relations and are working to secure the release of more people in the very near future. We are not finished!”
12:20
September 16, Pozirk. Minsk has agreed to release 25 jailed Belarusian regime critics in exchange for the United States lifting sanctions against Biełlesbumpram and Łakafarba, Belarusian producers of wood products and paints, respectively, the Pul Pervogo Telegram channel linked to Alaksandar Łukašenka says.
According to Pozirk’s information, the agreements reached by Coale at his meeting with the Belarusian ruler yesterday require the released dissidents to leave Belarus.
During his previous visit to Minsk in March, Coale secured the release of 250 political prisoners. Fifteen were taken out of the country, while the rest were allowed to stay in Belarus. In return, Washington lifted some sanctions, including those on potash companies.
Coale had reportedly hoped to secure the release of 200 to 300 jailed regime critics during this visit to Minsk, while Łukašenka said he was open to both “small and grand bargains” with the US president, indicating that he was ready to free more prisoners.
