Belarus released Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova after the United States moved to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash. President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 prisoners as part of the development. U.S. envoy John Coale described talks in Minsk as 'very productive,' while opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned that sanctions relief must not reward ongoing repression or enable Russia's war in Ukraine. The releases form part of a larger sequence that has freed more than 430 political detainees since July 2024.
Belarus Frees Nobel Laureate Ales Bialiatski and Maria Kolesnikova After U.S. Eases Potash Sanctions
In this photo released by Belarusian presidential press service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, right, and U.S. Presidential envoy John Coale shake hands during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)
Belarusian authorities have released Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova, Pavel Sapelka of the Viasna rights group told The Associated Press. The move follows a U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Belarus's potash sector and comes amid a broader effort by President Alexander Lukashenko to mend ties with Washington.
The Belta state news agency reported that Lukashenko pardoned 123 prisoners as part of the exchange. Belarus has released hundreds of detainees since July 2024 — more than 430 political prisoners overall, including over 50 who were transferred to Lithuania after talks in September 2025.
U.S. Special Envoy John Coale announced the sanctions change after two days of meetings with Lukashenko in Minsk. Coale described the discussions as 'very productive' and said normalizing relations with Minsk is 'our goal.' He told reporters the relationship was advancing from 'baby steps to more confident steps' as dialogue increased.
"We're lifting sanctions, releasing prisoners. We're constantly talking to each other," Coale said, according to Belta.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is married to Bialiatski, told The Associated Press that sanctions relief appears to be part of a deal in which additional political detainees could be freed. She cautioned, however, that Lukashenko's domestic policies remain unchanged and that his government continues to back Russia's war in Ukraine.
"The freeing of political prisoners means that Lukashenko understands the pain of Western sanctions and is seeking to ease them," Tsikhanouskaya said. "But we must not be naive: the crackdown continues, and easing sanctions should not strengthen Russia's war machine or reward repression." She also argued that European Union sanctions on Belarusian potash have been more damaging to Minsk than U.S. measures and should press for systemic, long-term reforms.
Belta reported that talks also touched on Venezuela and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Coale said Lukashenko offered 'good advice' on addressing the conflict, noting Lukashenko's long-standing relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin — although Coale added that Putin may accept some advice and not others.
Context: Minsk is a close ally of Moscow and has faced prolonged Western isolation and sanctions for human rights abuses and for allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The recent prisoner releases and easing of some sanctions are widely seen as an attempt by Minsk to reduce Western pressure and improve diplomatic and economic relations.
