WASHINGTON—In light of the recent release of 14 political prisoners in Belarus as part of a US-negotiated agreement—including Belarusian democracy advocate Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist Ihar Karnei, and citizens of Estonia, Japan, Latvia, Poland, Sweden, and the United States—Freedom House interim Copresidents Gerardo Berthin and Annie Boyajian issued the following statement:
“We are heartened by this weekend’s release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who was unjustly imprisoned for running in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, along with 13 other political prisoners. We commend US special envoy Keith Kellogg for his successful efforts to secure the liberty of these brave individuals, who continue to stand for a free and democratic Belarus.
“But let us be clear: this action does not exonerate the illegitimate regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, which continues to inflict staggering repression on the Belarusian people and has played a crucial supporting role in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. More than 1,100 political prisoners remain in Belarus, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, and opposition figures Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka. As the shocking weight loss and testimonies of the individuals released this weekend demonstrate, those unjustly imprisoned in Belarus face ongoing isolation and torturous conditions that defy international human rights standards and basic human dignity.
“Our work is not done. The United States, the European Union, and other democratic governments must continue to push for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus and around the world. The right to live free from arbitrary imprisonment is core not only for individual rights but for security, prosperity, and freedom for all.”
Belarus is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2025 and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2024.
