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Belarus Frees 123 Prisoners, Including Nobel Laureate

12/13/2025

34 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Belarus released 123 prisoners.
Ales Bialiatski, Nobel laureate, and Maria Kolesnikova, opposition leader, were among those freed.
114 prisoners were transported to Ukraine, with some heading to Lithuania.
Exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya praised the U.S. efforts.
Human rights advocates noted the emotional impact, as many prisoners had been held incommunicado for years.

History

Historical Context

In 2022, Belarus released 123 political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, amid international pressure, particularly from the United States. This release followed a history of repression, with over 1,000 political prisoners in 2021, and echoes the 2010 protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, highlighting ongoing struggles against authoritarianism in Belarus.

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Story summary

Belarus released 123 prisoners.
Ales Bialiatski, Nobel laureate, and Maria Kolesnikova, opposition leader, were among those freed.
114 prisoners were transported to Ukraine, with some heading to Lithuania.
Exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya praised the U.S. efforts.
Human rights advocates noted the emotional impact, as many prisoners had been held incommunicado for years.

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