A group of political prisoners released by Belarus arrived in Lithuania on Thursday evening following talks between Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and US envoy John Coale.
Belarus released about 250 political prisoners after negotiations with Washington, with 15 of them brought to Lithuania, the Foreign Ministry said. None of those arriving were Lithuanian citizens.
Lithuanian authorities assisted with border procedures and ensured the safe transfer of the former detainees to accommodation in Vilnius, with medical personnel on standby.
Dzianis Kuchynski, an adviser to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, thanked Lithuania for its support.
“This is a very significant effort, and we thank your institutions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Migration Department, and all our partners in Vilnius and Lithuania,” he told reporters.
According to Tsikhanouskaya’s office, those arriving included Katsiaryna Bakhvalava-Andreyeva, Nasta Loika, Eduard Palchys and Mikita Zolotarov.
They reached a temporary shelter in Vilnius around 21:00, where they were greeted by journalists, members of the Belarusian community and opposition representatives. Supporters welcomed them with cheers and chants of “Zhyve Belarus” (“Long live Belarus”).
“I feel good… It is a very warm welcome here,” Bakhvalava told reporters, thanking Lithuania for its support and calling the moment “very emotional and important”.
She said she learned about her release only on Thursday and realised she was heading to Lithuania while being transported through Belarus.
Bakhvalava had been detained in 2020 over a television report. Initially sentenced to two years in prison, her term was later extended to eight years. She said her husband, who was imprisoned in 2024 and is currently held in a penal colony, is in poor health and called for efforts to secure his release.
Zolotarov, 21, said he had not been informed in advance that he would be freed. Detained as a teenager, he spent nearly six years in prison.
“I have no documents… I wasn’t allowed to finish my studies,” he said, adding he hopes to continue his education in Lithuania.
Kuchynski said the release followed negotiations that included sanctions relief by the United States, though he noted that European Union sanctions remain critical leverage.
Belarus has released dozens of political prisoners in recent months, largely as a result of US diplomatic efforts. According to the human rights group Viasna, more than 1,100 political prisoners were held in the country prior to the latest release, many detained after the disputed 2020 presidential election that sparked mass protests.
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