Belarus releases opposition figure in exchange for US sanction relief

Belarus pardoned 123 prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, in exchange for US sanctions relief. The release comes as President Lukashenko seeks to improve relations with the US. Kolesnikova, a symbol of resistance, broke away from authorities in 2020 and was sentenced to 11 years. The US and Belarus held talks to normalize relations, resulting in the release of over 430 political prisoners since 2024.

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