Belarus Frees 52 Prisoners After US Sanctions Easing

Belarus has released 52 political prisoners, including 14 foreign nationals, following negotiations and an appeal from US President Donald Trump, marking the largest batch pardoned by President Alexander Lukashenko. The prisoners, now in Lithuania, include citizens from Germany, Britain, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and France, with the release seen as a significant diplomatic success and a potential thaw in Belarus-US relations. In exchange, the United States lifted sanctions on Belarus's national airline Belavia, allowing it to service and acquire parts for its fleet, and expressed hopes to reopen the US embassy in Minsk. While the release was welcomed, opposition figures like Svetlana Tikhanovskaya criticized it as a forced deportation and called for continued EU sanctions until democracy is established. Lukashenko praised Trump for seeking peace and emphasized cooperation to support Trump's mission, highlighting efforts to reduce Belarus's isolation and reliance on Russia. Despite the progress, more than 1,000 political prisoners remain in Belarusian prisons, indicating ongoing human rights concerns.