Belarus' Nasha Niva newspaper on Saturday first reported that opposition leader Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 others had been released from prison, where he had been incarcerated since 2020.

Tsikhanouski, one of the leaders of the country's opposition movement, was pardoned, according to rights group Viasna.

A regime-critical blogger, Tsikhanouski intended to challenge Alexander Lukashenko for the presidency, but he was locked up by the strongman before the election.

Tsikhanouski's wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran against Lukashenko in her husband's place and has played a leading role in the Belarus opposition since, released a video of his release on Saturday, thanking the US for its efforts.

"My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," she said. However, Tsikhanouskaya lamented that many others remain behind bars in Belarus and called for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners, writing on X, "We're not done." 

Tsikhanouski's release coincided with a rare high-level visit to the country by US Special Envoy for Ukraine General Keith Kellogg.

Kellogg was in Minsk for talks with Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an effort to facilitate an end to Moscow's ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine.

Released prisoners take refuge in Lithuania

All 14 released prisoners have been transferred to Lithuania, where they are receiving "proper care," the neighbouring country's government said. Five Belarus nationals were released along with three Poles, two Latvians, two Japanese citizens and one Swede. 

"Today, 14 political prisoners — including Sergei Tsikhanouski — who were imprisoned by the (Belarusian) regime, have been successfully released. They are now safe in Lithuania and are receiving proper care. The US role in the release has been critical," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said on X. 

Among those released by Belarus was Ihar Karnei, a former journalist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement, as he thanked US President Donald Trump and others.

"We thank Secretary Rubio and his team, the Lithuanian government, and the international community for their support of our imprisoned journalists," he added.

European leaders hail Tsikhanouski's release

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed his delight at Tsikhanouski's release from prison. He also called on Minsk to release other prisoners. 

"It is fantastically good news that Sergei Tsikhanouski is finally free. At the same time, we must not forget the many other prisoners in Belarus. Lukashenko must finally release them," Wadephul wrote on X.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen took the same tone on X, where she was quick to hail the release of Tsikhanouski but urged Lukashenko to free all political prisoners.

"This is fantastic news and a powerful symbol of hope for all the political prisoners suffering under the brutal Lukashenka regime. Europe continues to call for their immediate release," von der Leyen wrote on X.

Former Belarusian Culture Minister Pavel Latushko, who supported the 2020 protests against Lukashenko, said all those released had been jailed illegally and hailed Tsikhanouski's release as an "important moment."

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the "free world" needed Tsikhanouski. "My sincerest joy goes out to you, Tsikhanouskaya and your entire family," he wrote on X.

Edited by Sean Sinico