123 political prisoners from Belarus have been released in exchange for the relaxation of American sanctions

The minister announced that two remarkable politicians of the Belarusian opposition, Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka, will be received in Germany, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the exiled opposition movement. On Saturday, 123 political prisoners were released by the Belarusian authorities as part of an agreement to ease the economic sanctions imposed by the United States.

The released individuals were transported to Lithuania or Ukraine. Kalesnikava, an emblematic figure of the 2020 protests, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while Babaryka, a former banker, received a 14-year sentence for corruption charges. Before these releases, there were 1,227 political prisoners in Belarus, according to human rights organizations.