On September 11, 2025, 52 people were released from Belarusian prisons, including 38 citizens of Belarus and 14 foreigners. Of these, 40 were officially recognized as political prisoners.
The Belarusian National Platform expresses its sincere gratitude to the Republic of Lithuania, the United States, and the European Union for their significant contribution to this process, for their persistence and solidarity, which made the release of these people possible.
At the same time, we emphasize: the release of all political prisoners and the cessation of repression in Belarus must become a common strategic goal of the international community.
Situation in Belarus
According to human rights defenders, 1,168 people are currently held behind the bars as political prisoners, while thousands more have gone through arrests, trials, torture, and persecution.
The regime continues large-scale repression against civil society, political opponents, independent trade unions, journalists, human rights defenders, and ordinary citizens. Every day in Belarus, people are imprisoned solely for their beliefs, expressions, professional activities (e.g. journalism), or humanitarian assistance to others.
Key Challenges and Concerns
- Forced deportation
Formally released, these people were in fact expelled against their will with an undefined legal status, since their passports were confiscated. Most were not even given the chance to say goodbye to their families, collect documents, or take personal belongings.
- Health and vulnerability
Many released prisoners suffer from serious health problems, physical and psychological consequences of imprisonment and torture, and lack any means of subsistence, legal documents, or support.
- Right to return and choice
A new threat is emerging: the de facto practice of stripping citizenship and forced exile, with no possibility of returning home. Particularly alarming is the case of Mikalai Statkevich, who, after refusing to leave Belarus, was taken away by unidentified men in black. This may indicate the authorities’ willingness to isolate those who refuse the terms of exile.
- Strategic Tasks
Belarusian civil society must already, together with international partners, prepare infrastructure to support former political prisoners, including:
- Medical and psychological rehabilitation,
- Social rehabilitation and habilitation, including assistance with employment,
- Provision of temporary housing, documents, and basic needs,
- Legal and informational support, including urgent measures for rapid and effective legalization tailored to specific needs.
This must become part of the institutional support for civil society in exile, which will also be essential in the future, during the transitional period of democratic change in Belarus.
As in 2020, member organisations of the Belarusian National Platform are actively engaged in helping political prisoners.
The Belarusian National Platform will continue to use its international status to build bridges between EU governments and Belarusian communities abroad.
We call on the Belarusian authorities:
- To unconditionally and immediately stop all repression and politically motivated persecution, and release all political prisoners,
- To end the practice of forced deportation and deprivation of civil rights,
- To guarantee the right to safety upon return to Belarus and freedom of movement.
We call on the European Union and its member states, the United States, and international institutions to actively engage in developing a systemic approach — through diplomatic, political, and humanitarian pressure, in cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society:
- To continue and intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the release of all political prisoners,
- To recognize the issue of political prisoners as a top priority on the international agenda concerning Belarus,
- To coordinate efforts with each other and with Belarusian democratic forces for the release of political prisoners, including considering the creation of an international coordination initiative for their release,
- To support former prisoners during reintegration — through humanitarian, medical, and legal programs, including within the EU’s policy framework on Belarus,
- To go beyond the humanitarian dimension and place the issue of repression and political prisoners at the center of political dialogue with the authoritarian regime.
The release of 52 people is an important step, showing that intensive negotiations and coordination produce results. But this is only the beginning, and the effort must be expanded.
We are convinced that the release of all political prisoners and the cessation of repression in Belarus must become a priority of European and international policy toward the Belarusian regime.
Long live Belarus!
EaP CSF Belarus National Platform
Additional resources
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