Belarus Frees Opposition Leader Maria Kolesnikova, Pardons 123 Detainees

Belarus has freed 123 detainees, including prominent opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, under a deal with the United States that involved Washington lifting US economic sanctions on Minsk, Ukrainian officials said Saturday.

Of those released, 114 civilians were transferred to Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

The handover followed negotiations with the Belarusian authorities and was carried out at Ukraine’s request with the mediation of US partners.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the releases were the result of a coordinated operation prepared by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency in close cooperation with the United States. He said neighboring European countries’ security services were also involved when necessary.

“Thanks to the active role of the United States and cooperation between our intelligence services, people are now returning to freedom,” Zelensky said.

The Coordination Headquarters said Ukrainian civilians held in Belarus had been detained on accusations of cooperating with Ukrainian security services. The youngest Ukrainian civilian released is 25 years old, officials said. His wife had been freed during a previous release.

Belarusian citizens imprisoned on political grounds were also freed under the agreement, Ukrainian officials said. Among them were well-known public and political figures, including Kolesnikova, opposition politician Viktor Babariko and journalist Marina Zolotova. After receiving medical assistance, the released Belarusians are expected to travel to Poland and Lithuania if they choose.

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Kolesnikova, a central figure in Belarus’ 2020 protest movement, was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being arrested in September 2020, weeks after a disputed presidential election that triggered mass protests. Authorities had earlier attempted to forcibly expel her from Belarus, but she stopped the effort by tearing up her passport at the border.

For much of her imprisonment, Kolesnikova was held in near-total isolation, with limited contact with her family, according to rights groups. Her father was allowed to see her only once, during a visit to a prison hospital in late 2022.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters said all released Ukrainian and foreign nationals will receive necessary medical care. Ukrainian officials said efforts are continuing to secure the release of all Ukrainians still held in Belarus and Russia.