Twenty-five political prisoners released today have been taken to Lithuania, the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya reports.
Among those released are symbal.by founder Pavel Belaus, Torband member Yauhen Burlo, TUT.by director Liudmila Chekina, BelaPAN director Dzmitry Navazhylau, BelaPAN manager Andrei Aliaksandrau and his wife Iryna Zlobina, co-founder of the Sympa School of Young Public Administration Managers Tatsiana Kuzina, former Investigative Committee investigator Yauhen Yushkevich, activist Alena Lazarchyk, Yana Pinchuk, Homiel Viasna volunteer Sviatlana Yakubovich, Torband vocalist Dzmitry Halavach, lawyer Anastasiya Lazarenka, Stary Olsa musician Ales Chumakou, Pavel Petruchenia and journalist Kiryl Paznyak.
“I am very happy for everyone who has finally been free today. And for their relatives and loved ones who have been waiting for this day.
We also see how difficult negotiations on the release of people are. Every release requires a great deal of effort, and it is obvious that Lukashenka does not want to release all political prisoners,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
She thanked the United States for the negotiations and said that work to secure people’s release must not stop.
“It is necessary for the United States and Europe to continue coordinating their efforts and supporting the process of releasing people. … Every person released is a victory. Therefore, today’s release is another humanitarian result, but it is far from the end of this process. The work must continue until all political prisoners are free,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
Following negotiations between Aliaksandr Lukashenka and U.S. presidential envoy John Coale, the Belarusian authorities promised to release 25 people in exchange for the lifting of sanctions on Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. Coale also said that the release of political prisoners and the lifting of sanctions would continue.