Belarus released 52 prisoners Thursday, including 14 foreign nationals, in a deal with the United States.

Those freed included one Briton, one French national, six Lithuanians, two Latvians, two Poles, and two Germans, along with 38 Belarusians, according to reports. Prominent figures released were former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, philosopher Uladzimir Matskevich, EU staffer Mikalai Khilo, and several journalists. 

Independent outlets also reported the release of dual citizen Julia Fenner, jailed for involvement in the 2020 protests.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda confirmed that the 52 prisoners crossed into Lithuania on Thursday. He expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his “efforts to free political prisoners.”

“52 prisoners safely crossed the Lithuanian border from Belarus today, leaving behind barbed wire, barred windows and constant fear,” the Lithuanian president wrote on X.

No man left behind! 52 prisoners safely crossed the Lithuanian border from Belarus today, leaving behind barbed wire, barred windows and constant fear. Among them, which is especially important to me, were 6 Lithuanians. I am deeply grateful to the United States and personally to… pic.twitter.com/PiYJMVL9VP

— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) September 11, 2025

According to John Coale, who led the U.S. delegation to Minsk, in exchange for Belarus’ gesture, Washington will ease sanctions on Belarus’ national airline, Belavia, allowing the airline to operate flights and purchase aircraft parts, including those for Boeing planes.

Coale also announced that Washington is planning to reopen its embassy in Minsk. The U.S. closed the embassy in February 2022 after Russia, using Belarus as a staging ground, deployed tens of thousands of troops into neighboring Ukraine.

The recent decision by Belarus, a close ally of Russia, follows a phone conversation last month between Trump and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.