Nobel Prize winner among 123 political prisoners pardoned and released by Belarus
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 123 political prisoners, state news agency Belta announced on Saturday. Lukashenko’s office confirmed that the president had pardoned “123 citizens from various countries” after US mediation.
Among them is 43-year-old Maria Kolesnikova. The former professional musician was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2021 for “conspiracy” against the government and other charges.
Kolesnikova was one of the leaders of the mass protests against Lukashenko’s re-election in 2020, an election that was considered fraudulent. She was imprisoned shortly after she resisted an attempt by the authorities to expel her from the country, tearing up her passport in doing so. According to the independent news site Zerkalo, Kolesnikova’s sister, Tatjana Khomich, has been able to speak to her.
Ales Bialiatski, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, will also be released. This was announced by Viasna, the NGO he founded in 1996. Viasna is the country’s most important human rights organisation and the main source of information on state repression. “I spoke to him. He is on his way to Lithuania,” his wife, Natalia Pintchouk, told French press agency AFP.
'Relief and joy'
The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed its “deep relief and sincere joy” at the announcement of Bialiatski’s release, president Jørgen Watne Frydnes told AFP. “His release is a deeply welcome and long-awaited moment.” The committee “calls on the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners”, he said.
Viktor Babariko has also been pardoned, Viasna announced on Telegram. Babariko, a former banker, wanted to run against Lukashenko in the presidential elections in 2020 but was jailed before the campaign began. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says five Ukrainians have also been released. In a message on X, Zelensky thanked the US for its “active role” in the negotiations to free the political prisoners.
Earlier, Belta announced that the US had lifted sanctions against Belarus following talks with US special envoy John Coale in Minsk. Coale announced that the US was lifting trade restrictions on potassium. Belarus is a major producer of this raw material, which is important for fertiliser. The decision is seen as a further rapprochement between Washington and Minsk.
Ales Bialiatski, one of the political prisoners released by Belarus, at the US embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, 13 December 2025 © PHOTO PETRAS MALUKAS / AFP
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