The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has pardoned another 123 prisoners of various nationalities, including five Ukrainian citizens, who were held in Belarus. they confirmed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belarusian state media, including the agency BelTA.
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Ukrainian sources indicate that the release operation was the result of international negotiations and cooperation between special services, in which the United States and Ukraine’s European partners played a significant role.
As Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed, the details regarding the preparation of a special operation to release civilians were presented to him by the head of Ukrainian military intelligence KyryloBudanow.
Thanks to the active role of the United States and the cooperation of our intelligence services, approximately one hundred people, including five Ukrainian citizens, have been released. We are helping our American partners to ensure continued support for Ukraine. If necessary, we are also engaging the services of neighboring countries in Europe,” the Ukrainian president said.
The political context of Minsk’s decision
Belarusian state media has linked the decision on pardons to talks about a possible easing of international sanctions, including restrictions on the Belarusian potash sector, as well as a possible review of other restrictions imposed on the regime in Minsk.
According to BelTA, the individuals released had previously been convicted of, among other things, alleged “espionage, terrorist, or extremist activities.” Taking into account Lukashenko’s earlier decisions from late November, the total number of pardoned individuals now stands at 156. Among them are citizens of Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, Australia, and Japan.
Famous names among those released
According to the data of the Belarusian Center for Human Rights “Spring”, among those pardoned on December 13 were:
– Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski,
Return to Ukraine and the further fate of those released
The Coordinating Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that 114 civilians released from Belarusian prisons have already arrived in Ukraine. The youngest is 25 years old. Some of them had previously been accused of alleged collaboration with Ukrainian intelligence services.
The released Belarusian citizens – after providing the necessary medical assistance and in accordance with their will – are to be transported to Poland and Lithuania.
Let us recall that on November 22, 31 people previously detained on the territory of Belarus, including seriously ill people, returned to Ukraine.
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