Veteran Opposition Politician Mikola Statkevich Released in Belarus
Belarus has freed Mikola Statkevich, a veteran opposition politician who was imprisoned for over five years and refused exile in a US-brokered prisoner release last year. Statkevich, aged 69, is now at home recovering from a stroke that affected his speech, according to his wife, Marina Adamovich.
Statkevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison for organising what Belarusian authorities described as "mass riots" during 2020-21. He previously ran unsuccessfully against Alexander Lukashenko in the 2010 presidential election.
Human rights groups report that more than 1,000 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus.
"He is at home, recovering," Adamovich said on Thursday.
"I really hope that everything will be fine. The main problem at the moment is his speech. It's bad, it's difficult to have a conversation."
Reactions from Opposition and International Community
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya expressed relief at Statkevich's release, emphasizing the importance of continuing efforts to free all political prisoners.
"I want to thank everyone who keeps fighting to release all political prisoners in Belarus. We must continue until every last one is free," Tikhanovskaya stated in a post on X.
She added, "He is free and able to hug his wife, who waited for him for so long."
Background of the Prisoner Release
Statkevich was among 52 prisoners released in 2023 following an appeal from then US President Donald Trump. These prisoners had been jailed during the 2020-21 period when Lukashenko's government suppressed protests triggered by disputed presidential elections widely condemned as rigged.
While most of the released prisoners agreed to go into exile abroad, Statkevich was the only one who declined to leave Belarus.
In return for the prisoner release, the United States agreed to ease some sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, permitting it to purchase aircraft parts.
Political Context
Belarus maintains close ties with Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Alexander Lukashenko has held power in Belarus since 1994, consistently suppressing opposition movements.
