Minsk, December 14, 2025 – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 123 individuals, including foreign nationals convicted of espionage, terrorism, and extremism-related offenses, as part of agreements reached with US President Donald Trump. The move, announced on December 13, 2025, follows the US decision to lift sanctions on Belarus's vital potash fertilizer industry and coincides with high-level diplomatic talks aimed at normalizing relations.
According to the official press service statement, the pardons were granted "in accordance with agreements reached with US President Donald Trump and at his request, in connection with the lifting of illegal sanctions against Belarus’ potash industry." The decision is also framed as a humanitarian gesture, motivated by "universal human and family values" and requests from other heads of state, with the goal of "accelerating the positive momentum in the development of relations with Belarus's partner countries and stabilizing the situation in the European region."
Prominent among those released are Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Viasna human rights group; opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, a key figure in the 2020 protests; and Viktar Babaryka, a former presidential aspirant. Rights organizations like Viasna confirmed the releases, noting that many were transferred to Ukraine or Lithuania. Including a previous pardon of 23 individuals in November 2025, the total reaches 156, encompassing citizens from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Australia, Japan, and others.
The pardons followed two days of negotiations in Minsk between Lukashenko and US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale, appointed by President Trump. On December 13, Coale announced the immediate lifting of US sanctions on potash fertilizers, stating it was "as directed by President Trump." Potash is a cornerstone of Belarus's economy, accounting for a significant share of global supply and export revenue, severely impacted by sanctions imposed after the 2020 disputed election and Belarus's role in Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Coale described the talks as "very productive," noting discussions on normalizing bilateral ties, the Ukraine conflict—where he praised Lukashenko's "sound advice" given his longstanding relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin—and other issues like Venezuela. The envoy suggested further releases could follow, potentially including remaining political prisoners, in exchange for additional sanctions relief.
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the releases, thanking Trump while emphasizing that sanctions' effectiveness was proven by Lukashenko's concessions. However, she urged maintaining EU measures for systemic change. Analysts view the deal as part of Trump's transactional approach, aiming to engage autocrats and potentially distance Lukashenko from Putin's influence amid efforts to resolve the Ukraine war.
The releases mark the largest single pardon under Lukashenko's ongoing rapprochement with Washington, building on smaller batches earlier in 2025. Many freed individuals, required to leave Belarus as a condition, expressed relief but highlighted years of harsh detention. Bialiatski and Kolesnikova, symbols of resistance against Lukashenko's rule, were greeted by supporters in exile.
This development signals a thaw in US-Belarus relations, strained since 2020, and could influence broader European dynamics as Trump seeks to mediate in Ukraine.
