Belarus Releases 52 Prisoners After US Sanctions Eased

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko released 52 prisoners, including 14 foreign nationals from countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, following a diplomatic effort led by U.S. President Donald Trump. The prisoners, who included opposition figures, protest participants, journalists, and individuals convicted of espionage and extremism, crossed into Lithuania where they were received by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. This release represents the largest group pardoned by Lukashenko to date and coincides with the U.S. lifting sanctions on Belarus's state airline Belavia, allowing it to service and purchase aircraft components, marking a significant step in mending U.S.-Belarus relations. Despite this breakthrough, the release fell short of Trump's earlier request to free approximately 1,400 detainees, with many political prisoners still remaining in Belarusian jails. Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, appears to be using these prisoner releases to soften Belarus's international isolation following years of crackdowns on opposition and disputed elections. Lithuanian President Nauseda praised the diplomatic success but emphasized the ongoing struggle for freedom for the remaining prisoners.