Ukraine involved in behind-the-scenes talks on Belarus political prisoner release

“At the intelligence level, the countries were in contact. Later, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, approached me and said that the Belarusians were ready to hand over political prisoners,” Zelenskyy said.

According to him, Belarus did not want to transfer political prisoners through any European Union country, but was willing to do so via Ukraine.

“I said that, of course, we support this and are ready to receive them, because the issue of political prisoners is important. There are Ukrainian citizens there, and, of course, we must bring back both our own people and Belarusian political prisoners. That is how such decisions are made here,” the president noted.

Release of political prisoners in Belarus

It should be recalled that yesterday, December 13, Belarus released Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, prominent opposition politician Maria Kalesnikava, and dozens of other political prisoners.

Among those released were five Ukrainian citizens and at least two Belarusian opposition figures — Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava.

This came after two days of negotiations with the United States aimed at improving relations and lifting some sanctions on key Belarusian exports.

Earlier that same day, the United States announced the lifting of sanctions on the country’s potash sector, and President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 prisoners.

At the same time, Lukashenko’s administration claims that the political prisoners were allegedly exchanged for wounded Russian occupiers and captured Belarusian mercenaries who fought on Russia’s side.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that 114 political prisoners have arrived in Ukraine.