Maria Kolesnikova

Belarus pardons 13 more political prisoners in bid for US sanctions relief

Belarus continues to release political prisoners in an attempt to get the US to ease sanctions against the country.

Belarus to release 25 political prisoners in deal with US envoy, report says

Belarus will release 25 political prisoners, US envoy John Coale announced during his recent visit to the country's capital, Minsk. In exchange, the US will lift sanctions against two of the country's companies, according to the envoy.

Sakharov Prize-winning journalist Andrzej Poczobut released by Belarus

Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut has been released in a prisoner exchange, the AP reports.

Belarus pardons 22 political prisoners

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 22 political prisoners. 20 of them were convicted of “extremist crimes,” a term used in Belarus for political cases.

Ten good news stories from 2025

Amidst all the darkness in the news in 2025, there were also glimmers of light and progress to rejoice in. Here are ten good news stories from the past year, listed in no particular order.

Peace laureate and opposition leader released

Nobel laureate Ales Byalyatski and opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova are among more than 100 political prisoners released from prison in Belarus. This comes after the US lifted sanctions against Belarus. The fight continues, Byalyatski says in an interview.

Opposition Leader: Release 224 Prisoners in Belarus

Belarus pardons parents of small children

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, pardons 30 people convicted for protesting against his harsh regime.

The Regime Critic is Subjected to a "Slow Murder"

The Belarusian regime critic Maria Kolesnikova is being subjected to a "slow murder" and her health has seriously deteriorated in recent times, according to the leader of the Belarusian exile opposition, Svetlana Tichanovskaja.

Belarus reportedly releases political prisoners

An unknown number of political prisoners are reported to have been released in the dictatorship of Belarus.