Summary
Belarus released opposition politician Mikola Statkevich after he spent more than five years in jail. Statkevich, who refused to go into exile, is now at home recovering from a stroke. The release was part of a deal where the US agreed to ease sanctions on Belarus in exchange for freeing prisoners.
Key Facts
- Mikola Statkevich is a veteran opposition politician in Belarus.
- He was jailed for more than five years after organizing protests in 2020-21.
- Statkevich refused to leave Belarus during a US-brokered prisoner release agreement.
- He is currently recovering from a stroke that affects his speech.
- Belarusian authorities had imprisoned around 1,000 political prisoners.
- The US agreed to ease sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia as part of the prisoner release deal.
- Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has been led by Alexander Lukashenko since 1994.
