{"id":154891,"date":"2025-09-11T15:34:44","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/154891\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"prominent-figures-mackievic-fiadynic-dziadok-losik-among-50-political-prisoners-released","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/154891\/","title":{"rendered":"Prominent figures Mackievi\u010d, Fiadyni\u010d, Dziadok, \u0141osik among 50 political prisoners released"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 11, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Those pardoned today by Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka include prominent opposition figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of them veteran opposition politician Mika\u0142aj Statkievi\u010d, an outspoken critic of the Belarusian authoritarian ruler sentenced to 14 years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of a deal with Washington, Minsk has also released U\u0142adzimir Mackievi\u010d, an NGO leader sentenced to five years in June 2022; trade union leader Hiennad\u017a Fiadyni\u010d sentenced to nine years in April 2023; and anarchist politician Mika\u0142aj Dziadok, sentenced to five years in November 2021, rights defenders and Euroradio<\/em> reported.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chryscijanskaja Vizija says that Minsk has also released journalist Ihar \u0141osik sentenced to 15 years in December 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka has pardoned more than 50 political prisoners after today\u2019s meeting with John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler\u2019s press office said that \u0141uka\u0161enka pardoned \u201ca number of foreign nationals convicted of spying, participation in extremist and terrorist activities and . . . other crimes,\u201d noting that he did so at the US president\u2019s request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those pardoned include 14 foreigners, including six Lithuanians, two Latvians, two Poles, two Germans, one French and one Briton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus\u0117da said<\/a> on X that Minsk had released and sent to Lithuania 52 political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In return, Washington is lifting sanctions on Belarus\u2019 Bie\u0142avia airline and may send diplomats to Minsk soon, Coale said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pul Pervogo<\/em>, a Telegram channel run by the Belarusian ruler\u2019s press office, has published footage from the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka credited Donald Trump with ending \u201cseven-six wars or conflicts\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d urging the US president not to give up on his peace efforts, \u201cespecially here in the region in the conflict of Russia and Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNaturally, we have a great interest in your global country in terms of the economy,\u201d the Belarusian strongman added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coale read out the US president\u2019s and his wife Melania Trump\u2019s birthday greetings to \u0141uka\u0161enka, noting that Donald Trump\u2019s signature \u201cDonald\u201d is a special sign of friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also taking part in the meeting were Christopher Smith, deputy assistant secretary for Eastern Europe; Valancin Rybako\u016d, Belarus\u2019 representative to the UN; and Committee for State Security (KGB) chief Ivan Tertel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier meetings between \u0141uka\u0161enka and US diplomats resulted in the release of several groups of political prisoners, including politician and influencer Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump expressed hope earlier this month that Belarus would free the 1,400\u20131,500 remaining \u201chostages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bie\u0142avia sanctions were imposed after Belarus\u2019 secret services hijacked Ryanair Flight 4978. Agents cited a false bomb threat to divert the passenger aircraft to Minsk and arrest opposition journalist Raman Pratasievi\u010d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident has not been properly investigated because Belarusian officials denied international experts access to key evidence and witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International Civil Aviation Organization Council determined that the bomb threat against Ryanair Flight 4978 \u201cwas deliberately false and endangered its safety, and furthermore that the threat was communicated to the flight crew upon the instructions of senior government officials of Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs neither a bomb nor evidence of its existence was found during pre-departure screening in Athens, Greece, and after various searches of the aircraft in Belarus and Lithuania, it is considered that the bomb threat was deliberately false. Knowingly communicating false information which endangers the safety of an aircraft in flight is an offence under Article 1 (1) (e) of the Montr\u00e9al Convention,\u201d it said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"
\n

Belarus frees more than 50 political prisoners<\/h3>\n
September 11, Pozirk. After today\u2019s meeting with John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has pardoned more than 50 political prisoners. The Belarusian ruler\u2019s press office said that \u0141uka\u0161enka pardoned \u201ca number of foreign nationals convicted of …<\/div>\n \n