Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka plans to release more than 150 political prisoners, who will be transported to Poland, amid ongoing negotiations between Poland, the United States, and Minsk.
Media: Belarus to Release Political Prisoners
According to reform.news, officials reportedly announced that in the coming hours an official declaration will be made freeing over 150 Belarusian political prisoners. The portal claims that those released will be transported to Poland. The list of individuals has not yet been disclosed.
Negotiations in Progress
The release is to proceed via a Polish‑American negotiation track with the Minsk government. The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Chris Smith and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Belarus John Cole are currently in Minsk in preparation for talks with Lukashenka. Cole was scheduled to meet Lukashenka on Thursday. After similar discussions in September, the Lukashenka regime freed 51 political prisoners.
Current Prisoners in Belarus
Belarusian prisons and detention centers still house more than 1,300 detainees who human rights defenders classify as political prisoners. Among them is Polish minority representative and journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who was jailed in 2021 and later sentenced to eight years for actions the regime deemed hostile. Poland is seeking his release. Opposition activists allege that the regime delays his release as it views him as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Poland. They say the decision to release Poczobut will come directly from Lukashenka.