{"id":2520872,"date":"2025-12-13T13:44:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T18:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/belarus-frees-over-100-political-prisoners-after-trump-lifts-sanctions\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T13:45:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T18:45:40","slug":"belarus-frees-over-100-political-prisoners-after-trump-lifts-sanctions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/belarus-frees-over-100-political-prisoners-after-trump-lifts-sanctions\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus frees over 100 political prisoners after Trump lifts sanctions"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbelarus-frees-over-100-political-prisoners-after-trump-lifts-sanctions%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2520872&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Belarus has released over 100 political prisoners, including one U.S. citizen, following the beginning of sanctions relief by the Trump administration on a key Belarusian export-potash, a fertilizer component. The release, which includes notable Belarusian activists such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski adn Maria Kolesnikova, was acknowledged as an crucial step in U.S.-Belarus diplomatic engagement. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-taliban-overrun-bagram-air-base-numerous-high-value-prisoners-al-qaeda-members-freed\/\" title=\"Report: Taliban Overrun Bagram Air Base; Numerous \u2018High Value\u2019 Prisoners, Al Qaeda Members Freed\">freed prisoners<\/a> also include six citizens from U.S. allied countries and five Ukrainians, whose release was appreciated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of ongoing efforts toward peace with Russia. The move followed discussions between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled sence 1994 and is known for cracking down on political dissent, and the U.S. special envoy for Belarus. Despite the release,over 1,<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >000 political prisoners remain detained<\/a> in Belarus.The U.S. has expressed willingness to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/they-wont-stop-biden-admin-nato-insist-russian-invasion-still-coming\/\" title=\"They Won&#039;t Stop! Biden Admin, NATO Insist Russian Invasion Still Coming\">continue diplomatic efforts<\/a> to secure the freedom of remaining prisoners.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Belarus frees over 100 political prisoners including US citizen after Trump begins lifting sanctions<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2441729\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/belarus\/\">Belarus<\/a> freed more than 100 political prisoners, including one U.S. citizen, on Saturday after President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> began lifting sanctions on a key Belarusian export.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The latest release of 123 individuals, including one U.S. citizen, six citizens of U.S. Allies, and five Ukrainian citizens, is a significant milestone in U.S.-Belarus engagement,&rdquo; a U.S. official said, per <em>Politico<\/em>. &ldquo;The United States stands ready for additional engagement with Belarus that advances U.S. interests and will continue to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-uses-lame-duck-presidency-to-shape-legacy-and-finish-to-do-list-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Biden uses lame-duck presidency to shape legacy and finish to-do list- Washington Examiner\">pursue diplomatic efforts<\/a> to free remaining political prisoners in Belarus.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3916982\/two-us-soldiers-killed-by-gunman-in-syria-others-wounded\/\">Two US soldiers killed by ISIS gunman in Syria, others wounded<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3916972\/rubio-action-rwanda-violation-trump-peace-deal\/\">Rubio says US will &#8216;take action&#8217; after Rwanda&#8217;s &#8216;clear violation&#8217; of Trump-brokered peace deal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3916245\/bolivia-fernando-aramayo-arms-are-open-us-trump-strategy-south-america\/\">Bolivian foreign minister says &#8216;arms are open&#8217; to US and approves of Trump strategy in South America<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3916973\/trump-slows-bleeding-of-independent-voters\/\">TRUMP SLOWS BLEEDING OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS: WHITE HOUSE REPORT CARD<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. citizen was not identified, but Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and political activist Maria Kolesnikova were among the Belarusian nationals released.<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\">Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> thanked the U.S. and other allies for helping free five of his country&rsquo;s citizens.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are helping our American partners so that the relevant support is provided to Ukraine,&rdquo; Zelensky <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ZelenskyyUa\/status\/1999832811411222762\">said on X<\/a> as Ukraine works toward a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House ...s List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">peace agreement<\/a> with Russia. &ldquo;As needed, the special services of our European neighbors are also involved.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have instructed the Defense Intelligence and all services represented in our Coordination Headquarters to maximize efforts on the Russian direction so that the release of Ukrainian POWs can take place before the New Year,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We remember all our people who still remain in Russian captivity. I thank everyone who is helping to bring Ukrainians home!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3916982\/two-us-soldiers-killed-by-gunman-in-syria-others-wounded\/\">TWO US SOLDIERS KILLED BY ISIS GUNMAN IN SYRIA, OTHERS WOUNDED<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Saturday&rsquo;s release of the political prisoners came after talks between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. special envoy for Belarus John Coale. The latter official said the Trump administration had lifted its sanctions on potash, a key fertilizer component.<\/p>\n<p>Lukashenko, who has held the presidency in Belarus for over 30 years, has imprisoned hundreds of his opponents and critics since an election in 2020. Many activists argued it was rigged. There are over 1,000 political prisoners left in Belarus, a close ally of Russia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Belarus frees 123 political prisoners, including a US citizen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2520873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25347560861245.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[12623,32402,48914,5036,3634],"class_list":["post-2520872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-belarus","tag-international-relations","tag-political-prisoners","tag-sanctions","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25347560861245.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2520872"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2520876,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520872\/revisions\/2520876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2520873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2520872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2520872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2520872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}