Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 detainees on December 13, 2025, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, following diplomatic talks with the United States.
The decision followed two days of high-level negotiations, beginning December 12, when U.S. presidential envoy John Coale met with Lukashenko in Minsk.
As part of the understanding, Washington lifted sanctions targeting Belarus’s potash exports on the same day the prisoners were released.
The U.S. described the move as a step toward easing tensions and reopening dialogue with Minsk.
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While the release was hailed by human rights groups, critics caution that meaningful reforms and the protection of civil liberties in Belarus remain pressing concerns.
The development marks a notable thaw in Belarus-U.S. relations, offering a measure of relief to political prisoners while underscoring the continued scrutiny of the Lukashenko government’s approach to dissent.