Nine political prisoners released in Belarus arrive in Lithuania, including one Pole

Mariya Yemets, KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — 13 December, 19:13

Ales Bialiatski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Lithuania. Photo: Nasha Niva

On 13 December, nine political prisoners released from Belarus were taken to Lithuania, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and one citizen of Poland.

Source: Reuters; Belarusian media and human rights organisations, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Reuters reported, citing unnamed official sources, that nine of those released ended up in Lithuania, while 114 were taken to Ukraine.

Belarusian media and human rights defenders mention Polish citizen Roman Haluz among those released.

Meanwhile, ethnic Pole and journalist Andrzej Poczobut, whose release Warsaw has long been seeking, is not among those freed.

Poland's Foreign Ministry spokesman Maciej Wąsik said he does not know whether there was a chance of his release this time.

"A few years ago, there was a situation when Andrzej Poczobut received such an offer, but did not take it. This time, I do not know whether such an offer was made," TVN24 quoted him as saying.

Regarding the released Polish citizen, the spokesman confirmed that he is in Vilnius "among the nine people who entered the US Embassy".

"Whether he wants to go to Poland or stay there for some time to rest is solely his decision," Wąsik added.

Background:

On 13 December, Alexander Lukashenko's office announced the release of 123 political prisoners, saying it took place "as part of arrangements with the president of the United States and at his request" in connection with the lifting of US sanctions.
Earlier, it became known that 114 of the 123 people released are currently in Ukraine. Among them are former presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, his associate Maria Kolesnikova, and Marina Zolotova, editor-in-chief of the TUT.by portal. Nobel laureate and human rights defender Ales Bialiatski ended up in Vilnius.
It was reported on 13 December that the United States had lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash.
On 4 November, the US Treasury Department eased certain sanctions on Belarus, lifting restrictions on the national airline and permitting operations connected to Lukashenko's aircraft.

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