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Belarus has pardoned and released 52 political prisoners, transferring them to neighboring Lithuania, according to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. The move has been widely interpreted as a significant diplomatic gesture amid ongoing tensions between Belarus and Western nations.
In response, the United States has lifted sanctions on Belavia, Belarus’s state-owned airline, signaling a potential thaw in relations. The sanctions had been imposed in connection with human rights concerns and political repression following the disputed 2020 presidential election.
U.S. officials described the prisoner release as a “constructive step,” while Lithuanian authorities welcomed the individuals and pledged humanitarian support. The identities of the released prisoners have not been disclosed, but human rights groups have confirmed that many were detained for political activism and dissent.
While the development is seen as a breakthrough, observers caution that broader reforms and sustained commitments to civil liberties will be necessary for long-term normalization of Belarus’s international standing.
