{"id":155138,"date":"2025-09-12T13:35:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T10:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/155138\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"von-der-leyen-welcomes-release-of-former-eu-staffer-other-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/155138\/","title":{"rendered":"Von der Leyen welcomes release of former EU staffer, other prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Mika\u0142aj Chi\u0142o's Facebook page)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 12, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>The European Union welcomed yesterday’s release of Mika\u0142aj Chi\u0142o, ex-staff member of the EU Delegation to Belarus, and more than 50 designated political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’m glad our colleague Mika\u0142aj Chi\u0142o is among those freed,\u201d European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X. \u201cMika\u0142aj safely arrived at our Representation in Vilnius. Our work to free all political prisoners continues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The politician thanked United States President Donald Trump for his support as prisoners were freed after Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka met with John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaja Kallas, EU foreign policy chief, described Chi\u0142o\u2019s release as \u201ca big relief.\u201d \u201cI share the joy of his family and friends. I want to thank our US partners for their efforts and engagement in facilitating his release,\u201d she noted in an X post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chi\u0142o, 41, had worked at the BelaPAN<\/em> new agency before his employment at the EU Delegation in Minsk. He is also known as a Baptist preacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, he was given four years in prison for allegedly calling for sanctions and inciting hatred, charges routinely used in Belarus to persecute regime critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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