Minsk Releases 123 Detainees, Including Nobel Laureate, as US Eases Sanctions on Potash Sector

On Saturday, December 13, 2025, Belarusian authorities announced the release of 123 individuals previously held on politically motivated charges. This significant gesture followed intensive diplomatic consultations conducted with Washington. Among those granted freedom were Ales Bialiatski, the founder of the Viasna human rights center and the recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, alongside prominent opposition figure Maria Kalesnikava.

This humanitarian move was the direct result of high-level negotiations held in Minsk between President Alexander Lukashenko and John Cole, the US Special Envoy who assumed his post on November 9, 2025. The exchange represented a crucial turning point in recent bilateral relations.

A cornerstone of the agreement reached was the decision by the United States to partially lift economic restrictions, specifically targeting Belarus’s vital potash fertilizer industry. The US had initially imposed sanctions on the state enterprise Belaruskali back in August 2021. At that time, potash fertilizers accounted for over 20 percent of the nation's total exports, positioning Belarus as a major player, holding approximately 20 percent of the global market share.

Special Envoy Cole described this reciprocal action as a "very positive step" toward normalizing relations between the two nations. He emphasized that any further easing of sanctions would be contingent upon the continuation of the process of releasing detained persons. This established a clear quid pro quo framework for future engagement.

The release of these 123 individuals on December 13, 2025, continues an established pattern of prisoner releases. Since July 2024, the cumulative number of political detainees freed has surpassed 430. For instance, in September 2025, following prior consultations involving American representatives, 52 people were released, including former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich.

The group freed on December 13 also notably included five Ukrainian citizens, underscoring the multifaceted nature of the ongoing negotiation process. Ales Bialiatski, who had been sentenced in March 2023 to a decade in prison on charges related to smuggling and financing activities that disrupted public order, has now regained his liberty.

While human rights organizations confirmed the release of these key figures, they cautioned that the regime’s internal stance toward dissent remains stringent. Data shows that since the start of 2025, the 170 individuals granted pardons have been offset by the sentencing of 283 new individuals under political statutes.

John Cole, nominated by Donald Trump to serve as the Special Envoy on November 9, 2025, previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and held the role of Deputy Special Envoy under Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy for Ukraine. Cole’s stated mission involves gradually guiding Minsk away from Moscow’s geopolitical orbit. Interestingly, even as Washington made concessions, the European Union, on December 10, agreed to expand its own sanctions against Belarus, citing issues such as incidents involving contraband hot air balloons.

Cole indicated that the future trajectory of relations between Minsk and Washington will hinge entirely on the sustainability of this ongoing exchange: sanctions relief in return for freedom.